Florida's diverse electorate benefited Mr McCain

Senator McCain's growing optimism as the front-running candidate is evident in his nationwide search for votes ahead of super Tuesday.

While he is criss-crossing America, his two rivals, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, seem restricted to playing on their regional strengths or going to smaller caucus states where they hope to overcome Mr McCain's huge advantage.

Having spent much of the previous week in California, Mr McCain now reaching out to some groups of traditional Republican voters who had not supported him in the past, travelling to the Southern states as well as consolidating his heartlands in the Northeast.

On the last day of campaigning Mr Romney made a desperate dash across the country to Long Beach, California, hoping to challenge Mr McCain in the largest state.

And Mr McCain now plans to stop in California on Tuesday on his way to vote in his home state of Arizona.

Mr McCain has a two-to-one lead in two new national opinion polls which were conducted last week.

According to a new Washington Post/ABC News poll, Mr McCain's lead among likely Republican voters is 48% against 28% for Mr Romney, while the latest CBS News poll finds him with 46% to 23% for Mr Romney, and 12% for Mike Huckabee.

The CBS poll also has Mr McCain narrowly beating Hillary Clinton in a presidential election, but losing to Mr Obama.

It is a remarkable turnaround for Mr McCain, who just two months ago was supported by less than 10% of Republicans and was considered out of the race.

Gaining traditional Republicans

Mr McCain may be looking at a big victory

Mr McCain's has an overwhelming lead, of 51%, among Republicans who call themselves moderate and liberals, an increase of 28% since January.

But he is also now picking up support among more traditional Republican voters, and has a lead among Republicans who describe themselves as Conservatives, by 37% to 29% for Mr Romney.

Fewer of those Conservatives are convinced that he represents the "core values" of the Republican party - more prefer Mr Romney on that score.

However, Mr McCain is increasingly seen as the best candidate on the key issues.

On the economy, now the most important issue for Republicans as well as Democrats, he is preferred by 39% of voters, compared to 30% for Mr Romney.

And 25% now say he is more likely to lower taxes, compared to 20% for Mr Romney.

Mr McCain has also begun to attract more Christian evangelical voters, after running in a virtual tie with Mr Romney and Mr Huckabee for this important group of Republican voters in Florida.

And he has increased his lead among men and among older voters, his strongest demographic groups.

With Mr McCain seen as the most electable candidate, and the most credible as commander-in-chief, Mr Romney seems to have a huge mountain to climb.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES' ITINERARIES JOHN McCAIN 1 February 1 St Louis, Missouri 2 Chicago, Illinois 2 February 3 Memphis, Tennessee 4 Birmingham, Alabama 5 Atlanta, Georgia 3 February 6 Hartford, Connecticut 4 February 7 Boston, Massachusetts 8 New Jersey MITT ROMNEY 1 February 1Denver, Colorado 2 Missoula, Montana 2 February 3 Minneapolis/St Paul, Minnesota 4 St Louis, Missouri 3 February 5 Chicago, Illinois 6 Minneapolis, Minnesota 7 St Louis, Missouri 4 February 8 Long Beach, California Source: Press reports (1-4 Feb only)