<MINNEAPOLIS -- Sen. John Kerry's humor typically does not trigger alarm bells.
But on Friday morning, just as radio listeners were sipping their morning coffee, aides to the Democratic presidential candidate thought he was on the verge of answering the campaign's most closely held question: Who is the running mate?
It instantly traveled from Michigan to ABC Radio Network to Kerry headquarters and even to President Bush's re-election campaign, which monitors each word the Democratic rival utters. In late afternoon, it was dramatically announced on CNN.
Lost in translation, however, was the rest of Kerry's answer in which he revealed he had nothing new to say about a prospective running mate. As he always does, Kerry said, "I don't want to get into any speculation at all to be honest with you."
"We believe America wants a president with a sense of humor and a deep and abiding commitment to keeping the press on their toes," said spokesman David Wade. "A joke is a joke is a joke."
As Kerry flew home to Boston late Friday, he apologized to a CNN producer on his campaign plane. With a smile on his face, he told reporters: "Don't ever write about me being dour and sober and somber.">
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