President George Bush and his Democratic rival Senator John Kerry poked fun at themselves in telephone calls yesterday to the annual Boston St Patrick's Week breakfast.
Referring to the controversy over his claim that unnamed leaders supported his presidential bid, Mr Kerry said: "I'm feeling very confident about my ability to win. I've been told by a lot of foreign leprechauns they want me to win."
"Can you name them?" asked the breakfast host, Massachusetts Democratic Senator Jack Hart. "Not on your life," replied Mr Kerry. President Bush, on the line from the White House, jokingly exhorted a local priest to save "a few souls" among those at the breakfast. "Father, I got a few Republican ones I want to add to the list if I can," replied Mr Kerry.
President Bush drew laughter when he told the breakfast, which precedes the Boston St Patrick's Day parade, "I know there's a lot of talk about a Massachusetts politician who has his eye on the presidency. But tell Mitt it's not open until 2008."
One of the guests was Republican Governor Mitt Romney who is said to have presidential ambitions. Mr Kerry was cheered when he identified himself by saying: "This is the next president of the United States."
He joked about how badly he seemed to be doing late last year. At one point his staff in Iowa said it was down to five the night before, he said, "and I thought they meant the temperature and it turns out it was my poll numbers."