# Using textual analysis to deduce Kerry's running mate

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-textual-analysis-to-deduce-kerrys-running-mate/253769>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 6, 2004, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-textual-analysis-to-deduce-kerrys-running-mate/253769 "2004-07-06T11:13:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-textual-analysis-to-deduce-kerrys-running-mate/253769/1 "2004-07-06T11:13:17Z")

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They painted the name of the running mate on an airplane, right next to Kerry’s name, and covered it with brown packing paper. Two speculative candidates are Edwards and Gephardt. Unfortunately I can’t find a picture of the plane with the tape/paper, but I saw it on the news.

Anyone think it’s possible? I’ve seen this done recently in other places.

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**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-textual-analysis-to-deduce-kerrys-running-mate/253769/2 "2004-07-06T13:01:56Z")

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Well, I’ve seen at least one news source (AP?) this morning saying it’s Edwards, does that help?

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**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-textual-analysis-to-deduce-kerrys-running-mate/253769/3 "2004-07-06T13:08:47Z")

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I deduce based on John Kerry’s standing on CNN right this second announcing John Edwards as his running mate that he’s going to select Edwards.

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**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2004, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-textual-analysis-to-deduce-kerrys-running-mate/253769/4 "2004-07-06T13:18:51Z")

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There you go again, jumping to conclusions 😃