Cindy McCain rarely strays from her campaign script and almost never says anything political. So when the 53-year-old wife of the Republican presidential candidate remarked in February: "I don't know about you . . . but I'm very proud of my country," people took notice.

Although she did not mention Michelle Obama by name, Mrs McCain's remarks were aimed at the 44-year-old wife of the Democratic frontrunner. Mrs Obama had sparked a fire-storm earlier that week when she said: "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country, not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change."