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Republican Winner

Nellie Gonzalez Cutler; James Carney; Mark Halperin; Karen Tumulty

Senator John McCain likes to describe himself as "the luckiest man you will ever meet." As a Navy flier, he withstood several near-death experiences. In 1967, during the Vietnam War, he survived more than five years as a prisoner of war.

On Tuesday, McCain's luck held. He clinched the Republican Party nomination for President. He needed 1,191 delegates to sew it up. With four big wins, his delegate count soared to 1,289. This September, McCain will formally accept the nomination at a convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.

After he won, McCain went to Washington, D.C., for lunch with President George W. Bush. Bush praised McCain, who was his bitter rival in the 2000 race. "John showed incredible courage to get to this moment," he said. "That's exactly what we need in a President."

Good fortune may have helped McCain, but so did hard work. Last summer, his campaign was running out of money. Still, he soldiered on, holding town-hall-style meetings and talking to voters. One by one, his opponents dropped out. Last Tuesday, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee ended his run.

A Long Road Ahead

McCain jokes that he is "older than dirt, with more scars than Frankenstein." At 72, he would be the oldest first-term President ever. He has traveled a long road to get where he is, and knows that there's more rough road ahead. Still, he promises to wage a fair campaign against his opponent, whoever it is.

Last week, McCain urged his supporters to gear up for a battle that won't end until Election Day in November. "Stand up with me, my friends, and fight for America. The contest begins tonight."

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