But the "crossover" appeal of the millionaire former lawyer, merchant banker and journalist – his popularity with some crucial swinging voters – has suffered from the compromises he has made to reassure his party's conservative wing, on issues like climate policy, marriage equality and asylum, and from a sometimes confused political message and meandering policy process.
Simon Dyson, too, is punching away after a 69 while Justin Rose has made a decently reassuring start thanks to a two‑under‑par 70.
Mr. McCain has made some gains in reassuring conservatives nervous about his views on issues like immigration, polls suggest.
Wherever he goes, whatever else is on his agenda, Mr. Obama in recent weeks has made a point of reassuring Americans that he is not spying on them.
Berlin has publicly insisted that a deal is a deal, and on Wednesday German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel reiterated that stance, saying: "I cannot imagine a haircut (debt reduction)." Still, the new economics minister has made some attempt to reassure nervous creditors and markets.
Mr Obama's "pivot" to Asia has made China feel threatened, without reassuring other Asians that America will be there in a crisis.
And you can imagine them moving on to the real subject of their inquiry: whether China will be able to take its place at the top without anyone resorting to arms.In many ways China has made efforts to try to reassure an anxious world.
In lesson 11, "Trafficking in Persons", Iraqi recruits are told to "encourage the [trafficked] woman to talk about how this has made her feel about herself and reassure her that she is still worth as much as any other person".
But it is reassuring that neither writer has made the mistake of pretending to be something other than he is.
I think our Government should maintain statements made by our past leaders and am reassured that the Prime Minister has made this clear.
