The way I heard the John A. story was that he was electioneering with the rival candidate, who finished his speech when John A. threw up. Then mounting the platform, he said, "My opponent's speeches always have that effect on me."

Not as good as the quip the Alberta statesman Frank Oliver (I believe it was) came up with. His neophyte rival had compared himself to David, versus Goliath. When Oliver got up, he said, "My opponent compares himself to the wrong Biblical character - since he is using the weapon that Samson used to destroy the thousand Philistines ... "













(i.e., the jawbone of an ass).