The Hoarse Race: When Candidates Lose Their Voices

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The Wall Street Journal

The Hoarse Race: When Candidates Lose Their Voices
In Tight Primary Season, There's Little Time to Try The Silent Treatment
By JOANN S. LUBLIN
January 25, 2008; Page A1

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Presidential hopefuls from John F. Kennedy to Mrs. Clinton's husband, Bill, lost their voices at some point during White House bids -- silencing them temporarily and prompting quests for unusual remedies. Mr. Clinton hummed, drank up to 1½ gallons of water a day and used a wedge pillow when he slept. Then-California Gov. Pete Wilson, who dropped out of the 1996 campaign partly because of voice problems, hired a vocal coach, inhaled steam and gargled with tea. But none of those men had to confront anything like this year's grueling nomination schedule, with 32 primaries and caucuses before Feb. 6. That is leaving little time to rest tired vocal cords. Candidates are speaking publicly as many as a dozen times a day -- at rallies, press interviews and fund-raisers. The strain is audible.

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Politicians get all sorts of advice about how to combat hoarseness. Mr. Obama's favorite home remedy consists of hot water, lemon, honey and ginger, according to Mr. Vietor. But some suggestions are ineffective or potentially harmful, throat specialists say. Jonathan Aviv, an otolaryngology professor at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, recommends that presidential contenders take antacids daily and avoid caffeine, chocolate, alcohol and mint. He says they all aggravate gastric reflux, which can irritate vocal cords. But it's hard to wean exhausted candidates from their frequent jolts of caffeine.

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Some advice from specialists sounds counterintuitive. For example, Dr. Aviv advises that candidates not whisper when they get hoarse because whispering stretches vocal cords. "It's the worst thing you can do," he says. Humming, however, may help. Battling repeated bouts of laryngitis during his 1992 campaign, Mr. Clinton learned to feel vibrations in the middle of his face and nose as he hummed, says James Y. Suen, his longtime otolaryngologist. Speaking from this "mask" area gives people "a better voice when they are hoarse" and reduces strain on vocal cords, the Little Rock, Ark., doctor explains.

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The current crop of presidential aspirants might ease hoarseness with similar simple steps, other voice experts and campaign veterans believe. For instance, they could keep their vocal cords warm by wearing scarves indoors, suggests Peggy Klaus, a communication and leadership coach in Berkeley, Calif. Posture matters, too. While seated at a New Hampshire campaign event, Mrs. Clinton jutted her head forward -- putting a strain on her vocal cords, Ms. Klaus says. Thomas Murry, a New York speech-language pathologist, notices that Mr. Obama improperly "sticks out his chin over the microphone." Clinton and Obama spokesmen decline to comment.

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[question everything]

1. self kick (nt)

[Alexander]

2. Good to see Obama's taking care of his vocal health.

Kerry's voice was hoarse in his Iowa victory speech.