The story

Some big names entered the Republican race hoping to extend the party's time in the White House, but it was the durability of Sen. John McCain of Arizona that made him the presumptive Republican nominee.

As Republican hopefuls stepped up to the plate in 2007, President George W. Bush and his policies loomed large. Republican candidates had to decide how closely to align themselves with a Bush presidency defined by the September 11, 2001, terror attacks and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Former Sen. Fred Thompson, more recently a star of TV's "Law & Order," entered the race late amid great expectations. He pulled out on January 22, 2008, after less than five months, amid a lackluster campaign performance and poor showings in the early primaries. Read full article »