I'm thinking the reason he is holding out the possibility of running for office but being coy about the specifics is that he has already been tapped as McCain's VP. He's going to add some "zazz" to McCain's campaign and liven up the ticket! They'll call the campaign "Runnin' with the Oldies!"

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Richard Simmons â?? Congressman?
Posted: 09:35 AM ET

From CNN Radio Correspondent Lisa Desjardins

WASHINGTON (CNN) â?? Fitness star and effervescence extreme Richard Simmons is on Capitol Hill today, tackling the issue of childhood obesity and pushing for increased school exercise programs. But as he testifies before the House Education and Labor Committee, the 60-year-old is nodding toward that celebrity siren song: political office.

In a half-serious, half-jocular tone, Simmons described his approach to the hearing, saying, "I want to have the respect of a congressman, I want to talk like a congressman, and maybe, someday, I'll be a congressman."

During three minutes of follow-up questions, Simmons displayed an almost Washingtonian flare for avoiding a direct position. "However I can be of use," he said, "If my country wants me, I'll be there for my country."

So has no plans to run?

"Well," he answered coyly, "I don't know. I may run for office. You never know."

True to his cause, Simmons seemed most interested in possible health-related jobs in a new administration. "(The new president) is going to have to look at the statistics of what's happening to our kids," Simmons told CNN Radio, "And then he's going to say who can we turn to? And it certainly isn't the Ghostbusters."

The fitness king cited former wrestler and Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura as an example of the famous turned politician. He's not ruling it out.

"After this congressional hearing, I will go home," Simmons said, "I will talk with my Dalmatian dogs, I will pray to God and then I'll see what else I can do to help."

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dragonrider Reviewed by dragonrider on . Richard Simmons â?? Congressman? I'm thinking the reason he is holding out the possibility of running for office but being coy about the specifics is that he has already been tapped as McCain's VP. He's going to add some "zazz" to McCain's campaign and liven up the ticket! They'll call the campaign "Runnin' with the Oldies!" ----- Richard Simmons â?? Congressman? Posted: 09:35 AM ET From CNN Radio Correspondent Lisa Desjardins WASHINGTON (CNN) â?? Fitness star and effervescence extreme Richard Simmons is on Rating: 5