'An American hero': Touching tributes flow for John McCain

Former US President Barack Obama is one of many paying tribute to Arizona Senator John McCain, following the death of his 2008 presidential rival.

McCain died at the age of 81 on Sunday surrounded by family at his Arizona home, after battling brain cancer for more than a year.

He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, then won it in 2008. But he and running mate Sarah Palin lost to Obama.

Obama says despite their differences, they shared a “fidelity to something higher – the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed.”

Obama said in a statement that the two political opponents “saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world.”

Obama writes that they “saw this country as a place where anything is possible – and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way.”

Former President George W Bush described McCain, his one-time political rival, as a “man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order”.

Bush said in a statement that McCain was a “public servant in the finest traditions of our country” and is calling him a “friend whom I’ll deeply miss”.

Bush defeated McCain in a hard fought Republican presidential campaign in 2000 and later backed McCain’s unsuccessful campaign to succeed him eight years later.

The US Senator has also been remembered as a “true friend of Australia” by our new Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The prime minister paid tribute to the man he said “was committed to strengthening the alliance between our two nations”.

“He was a man of great courage and conviction. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Cindy, and all the McCain family during this time,” Mr Morrison tweeted on Sunday.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has released a statement describing McCain, who was elected to the US Senate from Arizona six times, as a “giant,” an “icon” and an “American hero”.

Ducey said McCain was an American who will never be forgotten, and he was proud to call him a fellow Arizonan. The Republican governor added that McCain’s “spirit, service and fierce independence shaped the state with which he became synonymous”.

Ducey recalled that the senator always fought for what he thought was right, even when it wasn’t popular. He says McCain’s “dogged patriotism and passion for country” made him an inspiration.

The governor added that he hoped McCain’s legacy would continue to inspire Americans to build a future that would make him proud.

President Donald Trump is offering his “deepest sympathies and respect” to McCain’s family.

The president’s statement comes after the two Republican leaders maintained a strained relationship since Trump suggested in 2015 the Vietnam veteran and prisoner of war was not a war hero.

Despite this, Trump said on Twitter: “Our hearts and prayers are with you!”

Trump has frequently criticised McCain for voting against a 2017 plan in the Senate to replace the so-called Obamacare law.