New-York-Times
November 14, 2006: "The committee's members also include the widely perceived front-runners in both parties, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and John McCain of Arizona."Eve Fairbanks
November 19, 2006: "The party's presumed frontrunner, John McCain, also faces a more troublesome environment ..."
April 1, 2007: "This is especially true in a campaign where the presumptive (or at least once-presumptive) front-runners in both parties have made candor their calling card: John McCain is once again riding his Straight Talk Express ..."
Today: " Senator John McCain, the Arizona lawmaker once considered the front-runner, brought in $12.5 million, his campaign said."