Rush Limbaugh Turns Down Obama VP Job
Denver, CO -- Radio talk-show pundit Rush Limbaugh became the latest notable public figure to remove his or her own name from consideration as Democratic Senator Barack Obama's vice presidential running mate.
Mr. Limbaugh's announcement followed recent similar rejections by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, U.S. Senator Jim Webb of Virginia, and supermodel Christie Brinkley.
"If nominated I will not run," Mr. Limbaugh commented on-air Tuesday, "if elected I will not serve, if indicted I will not cooperate."
"I feel a strong sense of duty to my country," the fleshy yet chunky conservative maven added, "short of actually serving in the military or anything like that. I believe I can do America and myself the most good by blathering away right here in this broadcast studio."
Intense media speculation about who will join Mr. Obama on the Democratic ticket has left television, radio, Internet, and print news outlets scrambling to predict the likely contender.
"The only person safely out of the running is me," said blogger Nelson Wolseley of Detroit, MI. "I have not been contacted by Obama's organization, which means literally anyone else could be asked to take the gig."
Once-likely candidates who have declined or rejected the 2008 Democratic VP slot include country music star Keith Urban, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, and Formula 1 racecar driver Kimi Räikkönen.
"For sure, I am flattered to be on Senator Obama's short list," the 2007 F1 World Champion told reporters prior to this past Sunday's British Grand Prix, "but I am enjoying a very successful automobile racing career right now, and also I am Finnish."
The White House bid of presumed GOP nominee Senator John McCain has also been the subject of much conjecture, although in Mr. McCain's case the flow of potential running mates has been positive rather than negative.
Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, who works closely with the McCain campaign, declared herself fully qualified to stand alongside the semi-fossilized Arizona Senator.
"I'm fit, I'm capable, and I have a profound depth of executive experience," Ms. Fiorina said last week. "After all those years running HP, I'm totally not bothered by being called the C-word."
Current U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney has hinted he would consider running again, despite previously denying interest in prolonging his years of public service.
"I have stated unequivocally that I have neither the desire nor intention to run for president of the United States," he said Wednesday. "However, it is explicitly clear the vice presidency is where the real power resides, so if John asks, I'm in."
