Exclusive: The McCain Women Speak Out

Cindy McCain hid her addiction from everyone, including her husband whom she did not want to worry. She said that when he found out, he was devastated that he didn't know earlier. The experience, though painful, taught her that it was OK to make mistakes.

"The older you get, you get a little more comfortable with yourself and you know yourself better and you realize what you can do -- a lot of times addiction results from fear. I don't have that kind of fear anymore, I don't, I'm just more comfortable in myself."

While she overcame her addiction, she was not able to protect her younger daughter from brutal political attacks on the campaign trail.

Personal Attack on the Campaign Trail

Leading up to the 2000 South Carolina Republican presidential primary, opponents spread false rumors about the origin of the McCains' then-7-year-old daughter Bridget.

The McCains adopted Bridget from Bangladesh in 1991, but opponents — the senator believes the Bush campaign, but it has denied it — used push-polling to make voters believe that he had fathered a black child out of wedlock.

Bridget, who is now 15, found out about the incident only a year ago when she Googled herself. Mrs. McCain McCain said Bridget was confused and hurt by the discovery.

"[She] was hurt by the fact that she thinks people don't like her because she's black," she said. "She asked me why the president of the United States doesn't like her and I said honey that's not what happened, you know this was about people that were mean spirited and wrong, they did wrong things you know, it's hard, it's been hard I'll say."

Despite these alleged brutal smear tactics, Cindy McCain said she was able to forgive, as time went by and she understood it was all about politics. Bridget is not campaigning with them this year and Cindy McCain is a little more prepared against attacks, recently saying that she keeps a "grudges list."