March 14, 2008 Political jokes traded at Salem's St. Patrick’s Day breakfast Play video

(NECN: Salem, Mass.) - Saint Patrick's day is coming up Monday, but the festivities are already underway. On Friday, Hillary Clinton was said to be just one of the politicians who made an appearance at the annual St. Patrick’s Day breakfast in Salem, Massachusetts.

NECN’s Alison King has more.

Script:

It’s breakfast and the jokes are flying -- must be that time of year -- the Saint Patrick’s Day festivities have begun with State Representative John Keenan’s event in Salem drawing locals and polls from throughout the North Shore.

Senators John Kerry and Congressman John Tierney were last minute no-shows, but John Keenan made sure the two john's were there in spirit.

Keenan: “There is something about the name John - when you say that. There's John Kerry, John Tierney, John Blodgett and John Keenan, not a single one of us is funny. I think when you're born, the doctor slaps you, takes a look at you and says, this kid doesn't have a comic bone in his body - we're going to name him John. We also have the issues with - toilets are named after us and people like Governor Spitzer are called Johns as well - it's not a good name.”

Mayor Kimberly Driscoll: “It is really kind of funny... Ted Kennedy, both Ted Kennedy and John Kerry endorsing Barack Obama. They've been in Washington D.C. how long? 68-years they've been in Washington between the two of them - 68 years. Two long serving Senators - who would have thought they

Salem Mayor Kimberly Driscoll, a Hillary Clinton supporter, had plenty of digs for Barack Obama, but she did stop to ponder the benefits of a Clinton loss.

Driscoll: “Even if Hillary doesn't make it, there's an upside for me. Think of all those great pant suits I’ll be able to buy on eBay...Hopefully, I’ll have to take them in.”

Speaking of the New York Senator, wouldn't you know it, she actually made an appearance at the breakfast.

Clinton: “There’s a rumor that my husband is Client Number Ten, but that's not true.”

Clinton quickly sought out Patrice Tierney, the wife of Congressman Tierney - who is an uncommitted superdelegate.

Clinton: “Please tell John how sorry I am that I missed him. That I missed him today, here in his district that supported me two to one, by the way.”

The Salem breakfast kicks off the holiday here in Massachusetts, but the Saint Patrick’s Day festivities continue throughout the weekend, in cities and towns throughout the state.