Cindy McCain's Soft Talk Masks Deep Resolve

Cindy McCain is reserved on the campaign trail—a marked contrast to the sometimes-pugilistic style of husband John—but outside the public eye she has been a “one-woman philanthropic operation,” reports the Chicago Tribune in a profile. The would-be first lady has brought medical relief missions to Rwanda and Vietnam, land-mine education to Afghanistan, and awareness to Darfur.

Eighteen years her husband’s junior, and the survivor of both a stroke and a painkiller addiction, McCain is also a player in campaign strategy decisions—though observers note she steers clear of taking positions on sticky topics and would likely be a conservative presidential spouse. McCain is especially reserved on the Iraq war, even though she has two sons serving in the military.