'Renegade' Joins Race For White House

Sen. Barack Obama has a new tag: "Renegade."

That's what Secret Service agents are calling the Illinois Democrat, in the time-honored tradition of giving "secret" code names to presidential candidates and other protected dignitaries. As is custom, the Obama moniker reflects something of the man himself (though he might prefer "progressive" or "independent").

Is the same true for a woman?

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) may hope so. Her code name is "Evergreen," given to her when her husband (former president Bill Clinton, a.k.a. "Eagle") first became a protectee.

Other candidates have not been as lucky. Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) was dubbed "Minuteman" after winning the Democratic nomination -- and, indeed, lasted not much longer than the name suggested. Former vice president Al Gore, sometimes derided as wooden, started out as "Sawhorse" but eventually became "Sundance" -- although the reason for the change is unclear.

President Bush, a protectee dating back to the days when his father was president (and with a reputation for rowdiness before he became a teetotaler) is "Tumbler." Former president Jimmy Carter, who taught Sunday school, is "Deacon." George H.W. Bush is "Timberwolf," and Ronald Reagan was "Rawhide."


Tumbler!