Super Tuesday contenders´ profiles

Barack Obama:

US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama  speaks at a campaign rally in East Rutherford, New  Jersey, February 4, 2008 on the eve of the "Super  Tuesday" primaries. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Born by a Kenya father and an American mother in Hawaii in 1961,the Illinois Senator is vying for the first African-American president in the country. With only a little more than three-year in the Capitol Hill, he was jabbed by rivals as inexperienced and even "naive."

However, by stressing his opposition to the Iraq war from the beginning and promising "changes" to Washington political environment, he has remained in a tie with Clinton.

Obama led the Iowa caucuses and sweep the South Carolina primary, supported by independent, young and black Democratic voters and those who are looking forward to changes and won 158 delegates.

John McCain:

Republican presidential candidate U.S. Senator  John McCain (R-AZ) arrives for a campaign stop  in Hillsborough, New Hampshire December 17, 2007.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

At 71, the Senator from Arizona launched another bid to the White House as the eldest candidates.

With long-term service in the military and then in the Senate, the veteran politician was credited for his experience in defense and foreign affairs.

Because of his moderate attitude towards the issues like abortion and immigration, and his different stance from President George W. Bush's Iraq war policy, McCain is more favorable among moderate Republicans and independent voters, who reversed his "underdog" status at the beginning to a forerunner now.

He has won 97 delegates yielded from his victory in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida primaries.