That frightening possibility is one more reason to vote for Barack Obama. According to an AP report on the relevant actuary tables, “If John McCain is elected and goes on to win a second term, there’s as much as a one-in-four chance America could see its first woman president — Sarah Palin.”
<shudder>
But the possibility of McCain dropping dead in office isn’t the only thing that could create a President Palin, the article notes. Key quote:
Illness is another issue.
Because chances of developing a serious ailment are higher for any person than are the chances of dying, Bragg used the candidates’ medical information to estimate how many years of good health might be in store for each. After all, a debilitating illness could force a president to step down.
The firm estimates that McCain has a health expectancy of 8.4 years, while Obama can expect another 21.9 years of good health. The calculations are from January 2009, covering two terms in office for either candidate. McCain, if he’s like others in his age group, would have a cushion of just about five months.
