Vice President Will Have Real Chance of Becoming President

Published in Folha
(Brazil) on 17 June 2008
by Sérgio Dávila (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Caroline Martinez. Edited by .
The role of Vice President has acquired an “almost unprecedented” importance in the U.S. elections, because this time around, whoever is chosen runs a real risk of becoming President.

This information comes from Sérgio Dávila, Folha’s correspondent in Washington, who assures that he is not being alarmist.

According to Dávila, Barack Obama receives daily threats from “crazy people” in the U.S., and has been accompanied by an American Secret Service team since before he stood among the finalists for the Democratic candidacy.

“The facts that he is Black, descended from Muslims, and too progressive for local standards contribute to the paranoia,” comments Dávila.

The journalist says that John McCain, at the age of 72, would be the oldest President to take over the White House, should he be elected.

“His health is not the greatest. He was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for five years, and he still feels consequences from that period today. He cannot completely move his two arms, for example. In addition to this, he also suffered from skin cancer, which left a mark on his face,” he explains.

Dávila says that, because of this, whoever votes for Barack or McCain will also be voting for his Vice President, “in case the worst should happen,” which explains why it is taking so long to select the candidate that will complete each party’s ticket.

According to the journalist, the names that stand out for Obama’s Vice President, aside from Senator Hillary Clinton, are Senators John Edwards and Chuck Hagel, as well as Governors Bill Richardson, Ed Rendell, and Kathleen Sebelius.

“On the Republican side, it seems that things will stay between the popular governor of Florida, Charlie Christ - an ex-bachelor who has recently announced he will be getting married - and the ex-candidate for President, Mitt Romney, a money-making machine who would bring economic experience to John McCain’s team,” declares Sérgio Dávila.


Vice terá chance real de se tornar presidente dos EUA; ouça Sérgio Dávila
da Folha Online

O cargo de vice adquiriu uma importância "quase inédita" para as eleições presidenciais nos EUA, pois, dessa vez, o escolhido corre o risco real de se tornar presidente.

As informações são de Sérgio Dávila, correspondente da Folha em Washington, que afirma não estar sendo alarmista. Ouça outros podcasts sobre as eleições nos EUA.




Segundo Dávila, Barack Obama recebe ameaças diárias de "malucos" nos EUA e anda com uma equipe do serviço secreto norte-americano, antes mesmo de estar entre os finalistas à vaga democrata.

"O fato de ser negro, de ter muçulmanos em sua ascendência e de ser progressista demais para os padrões locais contribui para a paranóia", comenta.

O jornalista diz que John McCain, aos 72 anos, seria o presidente mais velho a assumir a Casa Branca, caso seja eleito.

"Sua saúde não é das melhores. Ele foi refém no Vietnã por cinco anos, período do qual traz seqüelas até hoje: não consegue movimentar os dois braços completamente, por exemplo. Além disso, teve um câncer de pele que lhe deixou uma marca no rosto", explica.

Dávila diz que, por isso, quem votar em Barack ou McCain, também estará votando em seu vice, "caso o pior venha acontecer", o que explicaria a demora na seleção de quem irá completar a chapa de cada partido.

De acordo com o jornalista, para vice de Obama despontam os nomes dos senadores John Edwards e de Chuck Hagel, dos governadores Bill Richardson e Ed Rendell e da governadora Kathleen Sebelius, além da senadora Hillary Clinton.

"Do lado republicano, a coisa parece que vai ficar mesmo entre o popular governador da Flórida, Charlie Crist --ex-solteirão que acaba de anunciar seu casamento--, e o ex-candidato Mitt Romney, uma máquina de arrecadar dinheiro e que traria experiência econômica para o time de John McCain", declara Sérgio Dávila.

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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