The Obama campaign has tapped Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) -- the party's presidential nominee in 2004 -- to play Mitt Romney in the mock debate preparations, according to officials in the campaign and in the senator's office.
Kerry is a logical choice here, having both home-state experience with Romney and being in the spotlight himself with debates against George W. Bush in 2004, as well as a series of high-profile debates against Republican Bill Weld in 1996.
The Romney campaign hasn't announced who will play Obama in its mock debates. But Sen. Rob Portman, who is one of Romney's VP possibilities, played Barack Obama for John McCain in 2008.


Not a bad choice!
I like Kerry but, to be honest he's about as electrifying as Willard!
You can't force charisma!
Kerry is a very good choice, actually. He's very similar to the Mitt Romney of 2000.
And I think knowing Mitt Romney of 2000, and comparing him with Mitt Romney of 2012, will be a pretty good tactic.
"So. In 2001 you were pro-choice. You ensured the state aided in funding abortions. Now, in 2012, you're anti-choice. But haven't actually passed any legislation to that fact. So which is it, for it or against it?"
Expect Obama to drive a nasty wedge between Romney and the Right on a variety of key issues to the TeaVangelical Base.
Romney: "I don't remember saying that".
And "The U.S. doesn't need more fireman, more police, more teachers".
He means to say HE can hose down our own fires, patrol our streets and head up our classrooms of 40 children, just fine.
Romney is also OK with large classroom size, because his research says size make no difference.
I like Kerry but, to be honest he's about as electrifying as Willard!
You can't force charisma
Feisty - Perfect choice for the job...
Ahh, John Kerry.... another liberal that's never had a real job! I hope Barry pays well and not with taxpayer money, lol.
Married into weath, doesn't have a clue about business.....clueless..... it seems he'd be better suited to play Obama, oh...except there's no question about his birth certificate or religion.
I'd like to see how that mock debate turns out....
You are fine then, with the reprehensible swiftboating of the good Senator Kerry.
Does this square up OK with your religiosity?
Wow ... she finally fouled a soft toss down the middle off instead of whiffing everything FR throws up.
Actually I agree about Kerry.
If the only thing you got have to run against is that the other guy is a rich 1%er .... Kerry certainly qualifies and can relate to that.
Too bad Kerry doesn't understand how to earn that wealth ... marrying Teresa Heinz is a tough job .... but probably doesn't relate to what Romney will want to talk about.
Kerry is perfect for Romney. They're both clueless idiots.
Too bad charisma can't fix a an economy.
Backhoser:
I know you are the expert about hosing, but Romney actually means that hiring more firemen will not solve our economic problems ... not that "HE can hose down our own fires" ... etc.
(been reading to much Bev?).
I like John Kerry even if he isn't exciting. He will make a good Mitt Romney substitute and he knows Massachusetts politics and Romney from his time as Governor.
Kerry sure knows about being wealthy. I love the libbies whining point about Romney's wealth but had no problem with Kerry who is just as wealthy. I guess the real difference is Romney donated his inheritance to his church and became wealthy on his own (bad to a libbie)while Kerry married a sugar mama who made her fortunes off the back on migrant tomato pickers. (good to a libbie)
Too bad Kerry doesn't understand how to earn that wealth
Bob -
Do you mean how that corporate raider, Nitmitt, earned his.....
I can't wait to see Mitt Romney open his eyes really wide and say "don't you see? you don't you see?" Love when he does that.
I'd create a drinking game, for the Obama-Mittens debate, where we take a swig every time Romney says "my friend" or "you promised we'd be at 6% unemployment by now, you promised!" But I'd probably be drunk before the first commercial.
It should be easy for Kerry to mock Obama. There is so much material
"Reprehensible swiftboating?"
The guy that worked 3 tweezer, bactin and band-aid wounds, wounds that were self-inflicted, that resulted in no loss of service time into – 3 Purple Hearts and a ticket out of Nam after only 4 MONTHS!
And think about it Backhoser, how could they not have been more proud than for a former Swiftee, a guy they lived with, a guy they served with, a guy they fought with to be President of the United States …that is …. Unless Kerry truly was a gutless POS that was unfit to command a boat – much less be CIC?
You don't think there was anger for projecting on them the very atrocities Kerry and a few other nut jobs committed. They weren’t negligent/missing at their post that lead to the slaughter of a family and their baby, they didn’t order their crew to slaughter village animals with .50 cal. fire, and they didn’t take their Zippos to a village like Kerry did. They didn’t shoot a wounded kid running away with a spent B-40 in the back and ask for a medal. They didn’t run when one of the boats hit a mine …. Come back when it was safe … pick up a man in the water on their way back … and then ask for a medal.
Yea …. 192 of his fellow Swift Boat Veterans for Truth signing a letter demanding he release his records and asking for him to address meticulously documented inconsistencies were all right wing extremists, right?
Kerry using a photo in his campaign where 12 out of 19 of his fellow officers demanded he not use their picture – stating that Kerry was unfit - where ONLY ONE OUT OF 19 actually supported Kerry. (2 were deceased, 4 no comment.)
They were all wrong except Kerry, huh.
What is reprehensible is your defamation of true American servicemen for expressing the facts regarding Kerry's fitness to be president.
Jody, Iowa
I like John Kerry even if he isn't exciting. He will make a good Mitt Romney substitute and he knows Massachusetts politics and Romney from his time as Governor.
Good one Jody,
Our President picked a person very close to the boring Romney. The only difference is Kerry is honest. I like Kerry too. He is so professorial; another quality Mittens lacks.
Do you really want me to put up Willard's education and experience, or is it time for me to just ask when you are going to replace the donkey in your avatar humping a baby elephant with a donkey humping Obama's leg?
Ask why you let yourself be mentally mowed down by the Swiftboating Right wing. , that is alive and well today.
They got you hook, line and sinker? And this was how many years ago - lots of time to deconstruct what they did to another human being, in order to get themselves elected.
Suggest go on Wikipedia, or factcheck - or anywhere besides No Fact Faux.
Say Bev. - has Kerry brought that lovely yacht back to Mass yet? I think that despite his honesty, and overwhelming desire to pay his fair share of taxes, it still sits in a tax free heaven. Gosh, I wonder if Kerry has any cash parked over in the Caymans?
Oh, and one thing we know about John - super good judge of character. Kickass VP choice, right libbies?
ANyhoo - you catch that big Choom Gang picture? The one with all the members, including O, 'kicking it'?
Makes a good contrast to the picture of Bain. I mean having pockets full of money v. 'Choom' - you decide who should run the country.
hey Bob,
http://www.factcheck.org/republican-funded_group_attacks_kerrys_war_record.html
On Aug. 10, Rassmann wrote a vivid account of the rescue in the Wall Street Journal that contradicts the Kerry accusers. Rassmann said that after the first explosion that disabled PCF-3:
Rassmann said he recommended Kerry for the Silver Star for that action, and learned only later that the Bronze Star had been awarded instead.
Backhoser -
I read Brinkley's "Tour of Duty" before I had any idea what a pathetic POS Kerry was.
Anyone other than a mezmerized doting eunuch like you could see there were so many WTF holes in the story.
The Swiftees simply provided the facts that filled the holes.
About Wiki .... how about Kerry repeatedly stating he was going to sue the Swiftees .... how they begged him to sue them ... all of those years ... and Kerry gutlessly stays under Sugar Momma's skirt?
Guess the crapulenece in Wiki or on liberal blogs won't hold up, huh?
Cost him being President of the United States ... and we're all good?
Sure Backhoser ... sure.
When you call someone a name right off the bat, it creates doubts about what you are pushing right away. Btw.
You mean, I can't call Spanky Spunky?
Sigh.
But wait ... I've been discredited all the time, anyway.
Hiya Spunky!!!! *Waves*
"Reprehensible swiftboating?"
Did you serve in a combat zone, Bob? Or are you one of those Repugs that hollers about patriotism, but never seem to put yourself in harms way?
Kinda like Mitten's, who supported the war in Vietnam, but ran off to France when it came time to serve...
Obama/Biden 2012
when you are going to replace the donkey in your avatar humping a baby elephant with a donkey humping Obama's leg?
Hey Bob, I'll betcha that watching a donkey hump somebody's leg would give you a real turn on..LOL
What's that you got on your face ANNA M?
That's kinda nasty. :)
Hey Amy -
Yea, like I said in#1.14 ...
"That man" was Rassmann who was blown literally out of the water and in his own words - spent his time "at the bottom of the river."
Bless Rassmann's heart and disorientation, bless his near death experience and luck with Kerry returning to the scene, seeing him in the water and picking him up after it was safe, but all the others told a different story about Kerry.
Kerry ran.
The "One of the veterans" ....
.... stayed and fought - didn't run like Kerry - and thus deserved the Bronze.
Fact check mention that?
Which points out how biased and manipulative of facts factccheck is.
BTW - Do you really not know that factcheck is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy, Anneberg Foundation, Annenberg School for Communication .... and who sits on Annenberg's Chicago School for Communication .... Barack Obama.
Nice unbiased reference.
Maybe you can factcheck that, huh?
Backhoser -
Calling names?
Hoser is slang for someone for who tries to deceive or trick .... as in .... "I got hosed."
As many times as you have have put thinkprogress crap, as many times as I have refuted your post with data from OMB, or White House or CBO .....tou intentionally ignore it - you can't refute it .... yet you keep hosing away trying to trick and deceive.
How is hoser not accurate and I'll be glad to drop it.
Did you serve in a combat zone, Bob?
Didn't think so
Poor Kerry. After he's done, it could take weeks in the Douchebag Decompression Chamber before he'll be back to himself.
I read Brinkley's "Tour of Duty" and unlike the bobber found the biography of Kerry interesting. Douglas Brinkley is a nonpartisan biographer who researches facts and writes the truth. The swiftboaters were funded by a right-wing multi-billionaire who simply wanted to publish lies because he knew Kerry would beat Bush without it. Kerry almost did, too.
Should be an easy role to play - all he has to say is "I'll talk about what I want to talk about".
Good choice. Both got good hair and $400 haircuts. Pretty similar politically also.
If you saw any of the clips of Mr. Romney and his fascination with "Wawa's" (sic) you'll note that there is a striking resemblance to Sen. Kerry getting a Philly Cheesesteak with swiss cheese back in '04.
Better start early to get away from those teleprompters.
Of course you can provide a source to prove when teleprompters have ever been used in Presidential debates... right...?
GAWD - you people are thick in the head!
PS: I don't know what's more embarrassing - you voting for your own comment or another idiot out there who agrees with you!
Mittens IS awfully dependent on them. Right, Tom?
Mr. Romney has to use 4 teleprompters, just in case he changes his mind.
Damn, why is it low information voters are attracted to shiny objects.... like a teleprompter.
It makes you wonder if they even know who's running in the election.
Teleprompter, LOL.
Hey Feisty, you ever take back that assertion that Romney used a teleprompter in Ohio last week?
You know that"shiny Objecy" that DCIA is talking about?
Or is your MO to you just hop on board, tell some lies and move on?
GAWD - you people are thick in the head!
Freakin' hypocrites.
Anyone know what Goober is talking about?
you
I guess Just Tom means Mitt Romney needs to start early to get away from those teleprompters!
Backhouse, that's a keeper--funny!
I'm a little concerned Sen Kerry can't be nasty enough. Romney has just about perfected hysterical negativity.
Name a President that has ever used a teleprompter during a debate? Better yet, name a President since IKE that didn't use a teleprompter?
I'd suggest the GOP make a better choice this time given the way the President tap-danced circles around Sen. McCain 4 years ago.
It shouldn't be too difficult since the President adopted so many Republican positions during these 4 years that the GOP abandoned simply because the President supported them.
Nobody is stating the obvious... Kerry is a 1%er.
Nobody is stating the obvious... Kerry is a 1%er.
All Kerry needs to do now is strap his dog to the roof of his car and drive around the neighborhood awhile and he'll be all set to go.
I have to say Kerry is a good pick since Kerry knows how to flip flop allot more that Mit. Mitt knows about business and Kerry knows about Ketchup.
Only Moses can play President OBama. I'm sure the Lefties will have a good laugh on that one. The President can surely part the Ocean and walk.
Sorry folks I can not be so sarcastic.
Alan Keyes? Herman Cain? Allen West? Michael Steele? J.C. Watts?
Any of them should do...after all, your blacks are better than our blacks, right, Ann Coulter?
Da Noid
Da Noid, I did not make a racist joke, however since I'm black I will let it ride. To me black, white, red, green and yellow are nothing but colors of a rainbow. You have got to be a liberal. I will tag you on my software as one. Good Night.
Neither did I.
Ann Coulter's original comment...now THAT was the joke!
Alan Keyes? Herman Cain? Allen West? Michael Steele? J.C. Watts?
Noid - Mitten's has already had several mock debates with "Sperman Herman" during the Primary. Oh, I'm sorry, were they actually real debates?
I heard its being televised on Comedy Central.
Kerry would have won in '04 if Blackwell, the Secretary of State for Ohio, hadn't suppresed the vote by giving Detroit and Cleveland fewer polling stations that closed before all the voters could be served. The Republicans will continue to commit these crimes because they work...federal judges won't step in to stop the shenanigans. This, more than any debate prep, will decide the election: if the Republicans can reduce enough minority voters, Romney wins.
How could someone as stupid and moronic as Kerry, mock anyone? Just asking.
If you were anywhere near the intelligence and skills of Senator Kerry, you wouldn't have to ask.
Good choice. Romney was for everything before he was against it.
How could someone as stupid and moronic as Kerry, mock anyone? Just asking.
Dave - Kerry is mimicking Mitten's, not mocking him. Therefore, stupid and moronic is perfect for the job.......
Obama/Biden 2012
but gt - your forgetting - Romney is MUCH smarter then kerry or obama -we currently have stupid and moronic - in addition to dishonset and divisive
...as evidenced by...?
Kerry will need to remove his shoes and put on flip-flops as a reminder of who he's playing.
I know - Romney can get the kid who played urkle as a stand in for obama
Oh you mean that Vietnam veteran Kerry?
What are you gonna do for that idiot obama ? have someone speak for him... The dumb @$$ should have his tele prompt cord pulled. He would stand there like the Dumb @$$ he is.
Romney is MUCH smarter then kerry or obama
PC - We'll see who's smarter at debate time...LOL
Debate? What debate? Presidential candidates don't debate. They just trade stump speeches on a common stage.
See that's where you're wrong Nathan. Tea people Koch republican candidates like Romney give stump speeches in debates instead of answering the moderators questions. President Obama tries to have a real debate by confronting Romney, but Romney doesn't have a clue what's going on so he just repeats the tea people Koch republican talking points.