Rep. Himes predicts comedy gold from Obama’s choice for Romney debate proxy

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) thinks comedy writers dream of news like Monday’s news that President Obama tapped Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) to “play” Mitt Romney in debate rehearsals.

"Merry Christmas," Himes tweeted.

Just saw that the Obama campaign tapped Sen Kerry for debate rehearsals. Guess he'll play Romney. Merry Christmas, late night comedy writers

— Jim Himes (@jahimes) June 18, 2012

Obama’s pick means Kerry will be studying Romney’s manner as well as policy positions in order to help the president prepare to face him in three presidential debates this fall. Kerry, a former Democratic nominee for president, has years of familiarity with Romney already because the two men both hail from Massachusetts, where Romney used to serve as governor.

At the very least, Kerry ought to have no problems conveying Romney’s New England accent.

Romney has yet to pick a proxy Obama for his own debate rehearsals, although one of his close allies, Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), has functioned as a debate partner for past Republican nominees, even playing then-Sen. Obama (Ill.) for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008.

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