Keller @ Large

Which Presidential Candidate Is Most Like JFK?

BOSTON (WBZ) ― Caroline Kennedy, who was with Sen. Ted Kennedy Monday, compared Barack Obama to her father, former President John F. Kennedy. But who of the 2008 presidential candidates has the best claim to continue the Kennedy legacy?

Many voters recall the JFK era as a time of inspiration.

Several of Bobby Kennedy's children are backing Hillary Clinton. But while this may surprise you, consider that if you really look at the policies of the Kennedy administration, the answer to which Democrat best embodies them may be -- none of the above.

Keep in mind, John F. Kennedy was a staunch anti-communist who never shied away from deploying U.S. power abroad.

Kennedy tried to overthrow Fidel Castro at the Bay of Pigs, escalated covert and overt military action in Vietnam, and even backed a coup in Iraq that helped bring a young Saddam Hussein to power.

Would any of the three remaining Democratic candidates bring back Kennedy's foreign policy? According to them, no way.

JFK was a big fan of so-called trickle-down economics, who slashed tax rates on the wealthy, famously declaring that, "An economy hampered by restrictive tax rates will never produce enough revenues…jobs or...profits."

All three Democrats want to end major tax breaks for the wealthy. No JFK prototypes here.

But there's one area where the Democrats evoke JFK - sort of. He was the last president to oversee a military execution and strongly backed capital punishment.

All three Democrats support the death penalty but with extensive restrictions and safeguards.

John F. Kennedy was also an advocate for scientific exploration, immigration reform, and expansion of civil rights, areas where Obama, Clinton and Edwards can all claim some common ground. But if it's a JFK sound-a-like on economics and foreign policy you're looking for, you might have to take a Republican ballot on primary day.

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