Tales from the Trail

DENVER – It’s a question that has dogged Republican John McCain since he became the Republican presidential nominee.

Would he run for a second term in office if he wins the White House in November?

The 72-year-old Arizona senator, who would be the oldest person to become president in U.S. history, isn’t saying.

“That’s something that every president doesn’t consider until after the appropriate time,” McCain told Reuters in an interview. He often plays down or jokes about his age on the campaign trail.

Critics charged that his running mate choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has little experience on the national stage, was irresponsible given the Arizona senator’s health history, which includes brushes with cancer.

DENVER — Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden, 65, admits he’s getting a little touchy about the fact that he’s so much older than running mate Barack Obama , 47.

“If I hear one more time he was 11 years old when I went to the Senate, I’m going to smack somebody,” Biden joked, drawing laughter and applause at a breakfast meeting with convention delegates from Biden’s native state of Pennsylvania.

A smiling Biden, first elected to the Senate 35 years ago, noted there are just four senators in the 100-member chamber with more senority than him.