Former vice-president and presidential candidate Al Gore was once known, believe it or not, for his sense of humor. Gore’s humor was, like most, always best when it cut close to the truth — often revealing the truth in comic camouflage. Democratic candidate for president Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island knows more than a little about Gore’s most famous funny remark — Chafee’s lived part of it already, and wouldn’t mind seeing the rest happen.
Gore’s comic triumph of self-knowledge went like this: talking to a group that included kids, Gore said he was living proof that anybody can grow up to be vice-president — it doesn’t matter how small a state your daddy was senator from. Ba dum chhh! Lincoln Chafee’s father was senator from the smallest state in the nation, Rhode Island. He’s in the race for president, but with a very slim chance of winning — VP would be a fine consolation prize. Chafee’s version adds a nice angle too: he replaced his father in the Senate as a Republican, then became Independent, then a Democrat in 2013. He’s also the former governor of Rhode Island.
