McCain's campaign desperate: still pushing the tired Kerry VP rumor

McCain, Kerry friendship hits a rocky stretch

By ANDREW MIGA, Associated Press Writer Andrew Miga, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – John Kerry used to boast about his close ties to Republican John McCain; he even considered choosing the Arizona senator as his running mate after he won the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004.

Today the longtime pals have lost that loving feeling.

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"The reality is they have great respect for each other as fellow Vietnam veterans, but Kerry is auditioning for a cabinet post and McCain is running for president," said Rob Gray, a former McCain adviser. "Politics require them to be at each other's throats publicly."

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The vision of sharing a dream ticket in 2004 turned out to be what began unraveling the relationship.

After news reports surfaced that Kerry was considering McCain, the two camps squabbled over who made the first overture and other details of their talks.

"There has to be some bad blood over the McCain organization and the Kerry presidential campaign playing footsie about McCain potentially being Kerry's vice presidential candidate in 2004," said Gray.

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