Indianapolis News

By Ed Darneer and Rick Farquette | Star/News correspondents
April 29, 2008



MUNCIE, IN.—Republican Presidential nominee, John McCain, and Democrat candidate, Barack Obama emerged from Ball State University's Art and Communications Center claiming to have just signed an agreement to run as a team in November, should Mr. Obama's campaign be unfairly cut short by Democrat superdelegate pre-convention action.

McCain began the press conference with a statement saying that he wouldn't stand by and watch such unfairness happen when it was within his power as leader of the Republican Party to do something about it.

"We stand for nothing if not inclusiveness. And bipartisanship – we stand for that too. And I believe that we stand second to none on compromise. I'm proud of my Party's ability to soften the edges of meaning where principle is concerned. And I, more than any other Republican, know how to reach across the aisle and work with my fellow Senators", McCain said.

McCain went on to further explain that because the tenuous and perhaps volatile nature of American race relations played at least a small part in his decision to make this history-making offer to Mr. Obama, he was sensitive as to how it might look if he were to offer Mr. Obama the bottom of the ticket. McCain said that that would essentially be adding insult to the injury Mr. Obama would have already received at the hands of his own Democrat Party. So as part of this agreement, McCain will be surrendering the top of the ticket to his current other-party rival.

"Besides", McCain continued, "The gesture is, admittedly, largely symbolic since running for president as a Republican in 2008 isn't worth a bran shit in a cedar outhouse".

Mr. Obama's statement began by thanking Mr. McCain. He then went on to explain that he still plans to win the Democratic primary fair and square. "But" Mr. Obama continued, "It's always a good strategy to have a backup plan."