But it's an election for a president, doggone it

Source: Agencies  |   2008-7-9  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

IF the United States presidential election goes to the dogs, John McCain is looking like best in show.

From George Washington's foxhound "Drunkard" to George W. Bush's terriers "Barney" and "Miss Beazley," pets are a longtime presidential tradition for which the presumed Republican nominee seems well prepared, with more than a dozen.

The apparent Democratic nominee Barack Obama, on the other hand, does not have a pet at home, although he has promised his daughters a dog after the election, win or lose.

The pet-owning public seems to have noticed the difference.

An AP-Yahoo News poll found that pet owners favor McCain over Obama 42 percent to 37 percent, with dog owners particularly in McCain's corner.

"I think a person who owns a pet is a more compassionate person - caring, giving, trustworthy. I like pet owners," said Janet Taylor of Plymouth, Massachusetts, who owns two cats.

Richard Powell, 79, of Spokane, Washington, whose dog passed away late last year, said that if a person owns a pet, that "tells you that they're responsible at least for something, for the care of something."

He said pet ownership would not make a difference in his vote but if a president owns a pet then "I'm glad to know they like animals."

American Kennel Club spokeswoman Christina Duffney said, "You usually connect with things that you're familiar with, so that could be a part of why pet owners lean toward McCain."

McCain has a veritable menagerie, including Sam the English springer spaniel, Coco the mutt, turtles Cuff and Link, Oreo the black and white cat, a ferret, three parakeets and a bunch of saltwater fish.

On the other hand, the poll found that among people who don't have pets, Obama leads McCain 48 percent to 34 percent. But that still leaves McCain looking strong, since most homes have a pet. The American Pet Product Manufacturers Association says 63 percent of American homes have a pet, including 88 million cats and 75 million dogs.