US Election Running Mates: the search begins

Ah, those wonderful differences between British and American terminology. Here on this drizzly isle, a 'running mate' would presumably mean that schoolfriend who used to sneak cigarettes and cider into P.E lessons so you could both occupy yourselves during an afternoon of cross-country jogging.

In the States, however, the term has entirely different connotations. Presidential candidate John McCain and Democratic hopeful Barack Obama have begun the search for their prospective deputies, and the issue is certainly proving to be ~~an ideal CNN time-filler~~ the burning topic on everybody's lips.

This is all only semi-official, mind. Senator McCain is spending Memorial Day Weekend at his ranch with guests including Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. The above-board line is that this is just a friendly get-together - no doubt full of banter and hijinks - but those with tighter connections are suggesting the meetings may well be the equivalent of a 48-hour job interview.

As for Obama? He's taking things a little slower (which, given McCain's geriatric status, is something of a surprising role-reversal). He's called in adviser Jim Johnson for a chinwag, a fact that - seeing as Johnson also helped advise John Kerry on such matters - seems to imply Obama is feeling more than slightly confident about securing that leadership role...

Written by C J Davies on 22 May 2008 9:22 PM. Permalink