Doppelganger alert: John Kerry to play Romney in debate prep
June 18th, 2012
04:59 PM ET
11 years ago

Doppelganger alert: John Kerry to play Romney in debate prep

(CNN) - Former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry has been tapped to play Mitt Romney in debate preparations for President Barack Obama, an Obama campaign official confirmed Monday.

Kerry will mimic the presumptive GOP nominee in debate practice, anticipating Romney's answers and speaking style so the president can know what to expect in their face-to-face showdowns this fall.

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Obama's campaign has made Romney's record as a one-term Massachusetts governor one of their prime lines of attack–a record Kerry knows well as a five-term senator from the state.

First reported by The Boston Globe, Obama's senior strategist David Axelrod said Kerry was the best pick for the job.

"He's an expert debater who has a fundamental mastery of a wide range of issues, including Mitt Romney's Massachusetts. He's the obvious choice," Axelrod said in a statement to the Globe.

The senator himself had plenty of practice on the presidential debate stage when he took on President George W. Bush three times in 2004 as the Democratic nominee.

Obama is scheduled to battle his Republican contender in three presidential debates in October. The events are set to occur in Denver, Colorado; and Hempstead, New York; and Boca Raton, Florida. Also in October, the vice presidential candidates will debate in Danville, Kentucky.

Also see:

Golfer-in-chief hits 100th round as president

Lawmakers mum on health care contingency plans

Romney sees bright side of rain-soaked campaign event


Filed under: 2012 • John Kerry • Massachusetts • Mitt Romney • President Obama • Presidential Debate
soundoff (91 Responses)
  1. Rudy NYC

    Babyboomer

    Wow people. Did it ever occur to anyone that they may have pickED him because the two men have similar height, weight and looks. You know, like a stand in, in a movie or play or DEBATE. Why is everything an opportunity for haters to attack. People need to GROW UP, DAMN....
    ----------------------
    Physical characteristics probably made Kerry the obvious choice. Just the same, John Kerry is reported to be one the best debaters in the Democratic Party right now. He also has an advantage of seeing Romney up close at work in government more than most Democrats. He knows the strengths and weaknesses of his "record."

    June 19, 2012 01:50 pm at 1:50 pm |
  2. Hugganoak

    Actually what I want to see right now is Obama debating Boehner. They could put it on PPV and I would be right there watching.

    June 19, 2012 01:54 pm at 1:54 pm |
  3. NudeTruth

    Why doesn't Obama just debate himself in the mirror, it'd be the same thing as having a debate with Mitt Romney.

    June 19, 2012 01:57 pm at 1:57 pm |
  4. Ivan Bial

    even Kerry is not as boring as Romney

    June 19, 2012 02:06 pm at 2:06 pm |
  5. curious

    Kerry was the guy who was lambasted for his military service by the same people who now support Rmoney, a guy that didn't find it necessary to defend this country in Vietnam, or instill a since of patriotism in his rich sons, to defend America in our war against terrorism. Kerry was obviously honored by the opportunity.

    June 19, 2012 02:09 pm at 2:09 pm |
  6. MaineSkeptic

    Hah! John Kerry couldn't imitate a real candidate when he had his chance in 2004.

    June 19, 2012 02:23 pm at 2:23 pm |
  7. Observer91

    It doesn't matter. Mitt Romney is still going to lose to President Obama in the debates, even if the president does nothing.

    June 19, 2012 02:30 pm at 2:30 pm |
  8. johnborg

    super rich democrat from Massachusetts playing a super rich republican from Massachusetts. This is funny.

    June 19, 2012 02:37 pm at 2:37 pm |
  9. Tree

    Good, both are RICH and know what to say. Obama will WIN.......because Unfit Mit is a KID and he does kids things. He can not think for himself he has his donors think for him. He is a JOKE, if people votes for this clown GOD have mercy!

    June 19, 2012 02:42 pm at 2:42 pm |
  10. Ed1

    The Quote of the Decade:
    “The fact that we are here today to debate raising America 's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government cannot pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies. Increasing America 's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that, "the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.”
    ~ Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006

    June 19, 2012 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |
  11. Fearless Freep

    *** bcinwi

    oh john kerry....only man with a purple heart with no scars to prove it.....worthless
    ------------------------------------

    How do i know you have a brain if i cant see it ?

    As the scarecrow from the wizard of oz said.....
    Some people do an awful lot of talking with no brains.

    June 19, 2012 02:50 pm at 2:50 pm |
  12. Repocrats: Taking Back Our Future!

    I'm sick of partisan hacks, how about we create a new party, skimming only the best parts of the Democrats and Republicans? Voila! The Repocrats: Taking Back Our Future! Anyone with me?

    June 19, 2012 04:09 pm at 4:09 pm |
  13. mrpopular

    "John Kerry to play Romney in debate prep" ... and a teleprompter will fill in for President Obama

    June 19, 2012 07:44 pm at 7:44 pm |
  14. Sunlight99

    I wonder who they will get to play Obama. I doubt H.Chavez would fly up as he has not been feeling well.

    June 19, 2012 08:07 pm at 8:07 pm |
  15. J Mann

    @Repocrats – seriously – that party already exists – it's called the Libertarian Party – check it out!

    June 19, 2012 09:40 pm at 9:40 pm |
  16. Cynthia L.

    Kerry playing Romney should be easy, all he has to say is, "Well, we'll look at that when the time comes." Over and out.

    June 20, 2012 10:38 am at 10:38 am |
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