The one thing you're not allowed to do as a politician is fall ill – witness the questions that have dogged Michael Howard since he had a coughing fit yesterday.
A flicker of mortality can kill a career stone dead – just ask Michael Heseltine. We like our politicians to appear reliably on top of their game, so when Mr Howard appeared a little hoarse on Friday, then was racked with a cough yesterday, it was inevitable that reporters would shamelessly ask after his health, feigning concern in search of a new angle to sell their newsdesks.
Thus the Tory leader was quizzed about his health yesterday at a press conference, replying he was "fighting fit, thank you very much indeed". "We all get coughs and snuffles from time to time," he added.
Asked about his health again this morning he was forced to reply: "I'm fine thank you very much."
Then on GMTV he rejected reports that he could become irritable without a long sleep. "I'm fine on six hours a night" He said.
Mr Blair has so far successfully kept his previous heart scares off the media radar during the campaign, but with four week still to go, that will inevitably change.
With Charles Kennedy's wife Sarah due to give birth between now and the election, campaign strategists will be hoping he doesn't fall prey to any phantom pregnancy pains too.
