But they would vote for Mr Obama if he ran with another plain-spoken warrior, especially if that warrior questions the ban on school prayer and has a union card, two Purple Hearts and three tattoos.
The ICC has the power to ban captains for slow over rates and Ponting ran the risk of receiving a one-Test suspension had he stuck with his pace bowlers, given the slow rate they were managing.
Luis Suarez, who was serving the first of a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, was barely missed as the Reds ran riot at St James Park.