a personal level. it was true that my first days in the senate when i needed help very badly, and it was true my last days in the senate as well. in 2008 fritz and i became close friends, i saw his counsel many times. i was asked to join the ticket with barack obama. i was as i usually was, on amtrak, going home. i commuted every day. they later told me over 1,000,200 miles on amtrak give you all kidding aside, he called me after it was clear he was the fact on nominee. he said, he d like me to join him on the ticket. at least considerate. could he do a background check on me? you know he have to do that background check. and i said, no thanks, barack. i thought he was just dragging the bloody claw through the senate like presidential nominates do to get everyone excited. barack told me, no, there s only one other person i m considering. i said, barack, i don t want to be vice president. he said, why? i said, because you basically are standby equipment. i said would i want