Ditka Takes Credit for Obama Becoming President

Says he would have beat Obama if he ran for Senate in 2004

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Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka says that if he had run for Illinois Senate in 2004, he would have beaten Barack Obama, and Obama never would have become president, USA Today reports.

“Biggest mistake I’ve ever made,” Ditka said during a pubic appearance in North Dakota. “Not that I would have won, but I probably would have and he wouldn’t be in the White House.”

Ditka, who is now an ESPN football commentator, publicly contemplated running as a Republican candidate in 2004 but ultimately decided against it.

One Obama ally scoffed at Ditka’s after-the-fact posturing.

“Mike Ditka only pretended to run for Senate so he could publicize his restaurant,” former presidential aide Tommy Vietor wrote on Twitter. “And Obama would’ve smoked him.”

[USA Today]