Politics | presidential candidates Vacations Not Always a Breeze for Candidates Time off can mean serious gaffes for presidential nominees By Dustin Lushing Posted Aug 4, 2008 4:52 PM CDT Copied Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., looks around during a tour of the Casa de Huespedes presidential retreat in Cartagena, Colombia, Tuesday, July 1, 2008. (AP Photo/LM Otero) It's vacation time for the presidential candidates before the grueling run-up to the November elections, but hours at the beach can be as politically disastrous as time spent on the campaign trail, reports the Boston Globe. Summer vacations can bring out a candidate's taste for unhip outfits and awkwardly luxurious accommodations. "There are two ways vacations can mess you up: Number one, choice of location, and number two, of course, is what you do when you get there," says an expert on politics and pop culture. John McCain plans to rest in seclusion on his Arizona ranch. Barack Obama will vacation in Hawaii, where he will likely be hounded by reporters. Read These Next A family hike took a tragic turn in Arkansas on Saturday. White House makes Hegseth put his polygraph away. A new book argues the Sacagawea legend is all wrong. US denies visas to Venezuelan team bound for Little League tournament. Report an error