Boehner says he likes cigarettes, red wine more than presidency

Speaker of the House John Boehner said on The Golf Channel he has too many vices to run for president.

Boehner made the remark in an interview last month.

Boehner is in his third term as speaker, a tumultuous tenure marked by challenges from tea party-aligned newcomers as well as a need to deal with President Barack Obama within divided government. He was elected to his most recent term as speaker in January over the opposition of 25 Republicans, the most to oppose a winning candidate of their own party in a century.

The Golf Channel remark was not the first time Boehner has joked about drinking and smoking. He told Jay Leno the same thing in January 2014.

“Listen, I like to play golf,’’ Boehner told Leno, to laughter and approving applause. “I like to cut my own grass. You know, I do drink red wine. I smoke cigarettes. And I’m not giving that up to be the president of the United States.’’

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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