'08 Campaigning on a Jet Plane

Aug. 24, 2007 — -- As the end of the summer travel season nears, many Americans have an air travel horror story. Delayed or even canceled flights. Lost baggage. Ever-changing security rules. Cramped seats.

Some of the 2008 presidential candidates have bypassed travel nightmares by flying high in style -- either on expensive privately chartered jets or by hitching a ride on the corporate jets of some of the world's wealthiest businesses.

Other White House wannabes fly with the masses on commercial flights -- either because of ethical reasons or simply because they can't afford to travel any other way.

However, with a packed campaign event schedule, large entourages, more hands to shake than ever because of the early primary voting states, criss-crossing the nation on regular commercial flights has become a challenge.

A delayed flight caused Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. to miss a scheduled campaign event last month in Pittsburgh. The White House wannabe was forced to address supporters by speaker phone.

Early in the campaign McCain pledged he wouldn't take flights on private corporate planes.

Two other presidential candidates, Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., saw firsthand how a private jet can speed things along when their commercial flight to Washington from Charleston, S.C., last month was briefly grounded.

The reason? President Bush had landed on Air Force One at the same airport, causing the baggage handlers to be cleared from the tarmac for security reasons.

Many politicians, including Biden, freely admit they would rather fly on a private or corporate jet.

"If I had a plane, I would make 30 percent more appearances in the state of Iowa, in New Hampshire, in Nevada," Biden told Radio Iowa's O. Kay Henderson last month. "That's where money does make a difference," said Biden, whose fundraising effort lags far below '08 rivals Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

Ann Romney, wife of millionaire Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, has also admitted she'd rather fly on a private jet.