The CIA in 2002 had sent former ambassador Joseph Wilson to Niger to investigate the claims, and he went public in July 2003 criticizing the Bush administration's case for going to war in Iraq.

CNN: Ex-CIA official: WMD evidence ignored

And the New Hampshire result suggested that Mr McCain's Populist Conservatism might be more compelling, in any case, than Mr Bush's Compassionate sort.

ECONOMIST: Not least his own party

He has kept the national security infrastructure in place, followed through with Bush's plans on Iraq and Afghanistan (withdrawing in the first case and increasing troops, then diminishing U.S. presence in the second case), and strategically employed aggressive military power such as drone strikes and assassinations against the leadership of al Qaeda.

CNN: Second-term Obama will play defense