I thought McCain's ancestors came from Scotland not Ireland, and that he wouldn't be likely to see himself, or be seen by others, as particularly Irish American.

Obama seems to have at least as good grounds for claiming to be Irish anyway - Obama's heritage traced to Ireland, with an ancestor called Falmouth Kearney who went over in 1850.

Anyway, don't all Americans have Irish ancestors, at least on St Patrick's Day - or when running for election?