John Kerry to play Romney in Obama debate prep

Mitt Romney, left, and John Kerry.

President Obama has recruited Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., to play the part of Mitt Romney in mock debates ahead of the three presidential debates in October, the Obama campaign has confirmed to CBS News.

The Washington Post first reported the news. David Axelrod, Mr. Obama's chief strategist, told the Post that Kerry was an "obvious choice."

"There is no one that has more experience or understanding of the presidential debate process than John Kerry," he said. "He's an expert debater who has a fundamental mastery of a wide range of issues, including Mitt Romney's Massachusetts."

Many political observers (including this one) have noted the similarities between Kerry, the Democrats' presidential nominee in 2004, and Romney. Both men are extremely wealthy, arguably somewhat-awkward Massachusetts politicians with great hair, strong links to the political establishment and a reputation for flip-flopping. Like Kerry, Romney had to overcome primary challenges from rivals who appealed more directly to his party's base. Like Romney, Kerry reached the general election in large part because he was seen as the most electable option, not necessarily the most inspiring one.

Perhaps more importantly, Kerry is intimately familiar with the record and rhetoric of the former Massachusetts governor and Senate candidate. He is also widely seen as a strong debater: Kerry performed well in his debates against former President George W. Bush in 2004, and the Post notes that he was a "star debater" at Yale University.

Romney has not yet tapped a stand-in for Mr. Obama in his mock debates. In the 2008 campaign, Sen. John McCain's stand-in for Mr. Obama was Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) - who is now seen as one of the leading contenders to be Romney's running mate.

[TeaPartyWarrior]

Obama has a problem with the money Romney worked for and made for himself. Kerry married for money but that's OK cuz he's a Democrat.

Th hypocrisy of liberals knows no bounds.

[RollotheNorman]

This is a mistake. No living, breathing, flesh and blood human being can stand in fro the Romnobot. Why not just use a long tape of random awkward, ill-conceived comebacks to statements that weren't made in the place or statements that were wrenched hopelessly out of context. Kerry is not realistic at all.

[Deathstalker74]

I did hear that Kerry was going to play the role of Romney. And Louis Farrakhan is going to play the role of Obama. Seems only fitting.

[ABunker]

Has anyone seen Kerry lately? I saw him on C-Span the other night and if it wasnt for his name on the sereen, I wouldnt have recognized him. What happened to his face? He looked like a monster.

[esq777]

Makes sense. If there is anybody who knows how to play an out of touch east coast elitist like Willard Romney, it's wind-surfing John Kerry.

[G. Lukacs]

Sad thing is they need a focus group to be able to compete. These two, one being the Pres the other a hopeful Pres to be, needing someone to tell them how to answer questions.

[Bojax39]

"President Obama has recruited Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., to play the part of Mitt Romney in mock debates"


Priceless.... :-)

[matt6052]

With nothing else to look forward to before October, Obama turns his attention to the debates.

[azlefti]

Thanks to the GOP being hard at work blocking everytihng!

[DrTrenga]

The true buffoons are the Americans that will actually vote for Mitt the cultist crook. They should NOT be allowed to reproduce.

[Bojax39]

by DrTrenga: "Americans that will actually vote for Mitt the cultist crook. They should NOT be allowed to reproduce."

But we will vote. And seeing how we don't believe in thinning our ranks with frivolous abortions the way the liberals do, our reproduction is not an issue....

[henrytyler]

Try as you may ........... you are still going to get dat ass whipped in November .............you can "prep" all you want to ............

[Bojax39]

by USA4Obama: "Yep...Mittens has been prepping for 6 long years and he STILL cant manage himself or the press."

Maybe he should buy himself a teleprompter so he can come off as wooden as Obama does.....