A Republican candidate for the 2008 US Presidential election met with Premier Ewart Brown during a visit to Bermuda yesterday.

Arizona Senator John McCain is on vacation and staying with friend Gregory Slayton, the US Consul.

According to Mr. Slayton, the politician's interest in Bermuda was sparked by his meeting with former Premier Alex Scott during his official visit to Washington DC in 2006.

"Senator McCain is fascinated by the growth of Bermuda. He and his wife Cindy are meeting with the Premier and the Governor and leaders of business. It's very much a vacation for them, a few days of rest.

"Bermuda is a very, very successful country and leaders from the US are very interested in finding out more about the country. I'm honoured to have them," said Mr. Slayton.

Senator McCain suffered a setback in his campaign to reach the White House earlier this summer when two top aides on his team quit. "He has been been trailing in polls to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

The son and grandson of US Navy admirals, John McCain spent six years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam and retired as a Captain before first being elected to Congress in 1982.