Choosing a campaign song isn’t an easy task. Just look at all the difficulty the McCain camp has had in trying to find a theme song. McCain first swiped John Mellencamp’s “Our Country” from the John Edwards campaign, and immediately had to surrender it when Mellencamp objected to the song’s use in the McCain campaign. Then he tried to snag a song by Swedish supergroup ABBA (pictured) — with little luck.

If Republican candidates haven’t learned their lesson yet, artists don’t like when you steal their material and manipulate it to make it your own: Bruce Springsteen demanded Reagan quit using “Born in the U.S.A.” in 1984. George W. Bush got into his own trouble in 2000: Tom Petty forced George W. to quit playing “I Won’t Back Down”; then Sting forced him to stop playing “Brand New Day.” The group Orleans made him quit using their song “Still the One” in 2004. And don’t forget the “Dole Man,” who caught heat for using Sam and Dave’s “Soul Man” tune…the list goes on and on.

So what does a song say about a candidate? We look at the best and worst campaign songs over the last few elections and declare a winner and loser.

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1992: Al Gore for VP
Song: “You Can Call me Al,” by Paul Simon
Sample lyrics: “A man walks down the street, he says why am I soft in the middle now? Why am I soft in the middle? The rest of my life is so hard. I need a photo-opportunity. I want a shot at redemption.”
What it says about the candidate: “Al’s my name; don’t wear it out. Also, I got a big mid-section.”
Verdict: A prescient and unfortunate tune, no? Call me “bored.” Inspiration factor: 0.

2000: George W. Bush for President
Song: “I Won’t Back Down,” by Tom Petty
Sample lyrics: “Well, I won’t back down, no I won’t back down. You can stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won’t back down.”
What it says about the candidate: “I’m a real stubborn muttonhead.”
Verdict: Wow, this guy’s just like Mussolini! Fear factor: 10.

2004: John Kerry for President
Song: “Fortunate Son,” by John Fogerty
Sample lyrics: “It ain’t me, it ain’t me. I ain’t no millionaire’s son. It ain’t me, it ain’t me. I ain’t no fortunate one.”
What it says about the candidate: “I was born into the Forbes family. I summered in France. I went to Yale. I married into the Heinz fortune. I windsurf. Millionaires: They’re just like you!”
Verdict: Dude’s way too defensive. Denial factor: 10.

2008: Barack Obama for President
Song:“The Rising,” by Bruce Springsteen
Sample lyrics: “Come on up for the rising. Come on up, lay your hands in mine. Come on up for the rising. Come on up for the rising tonight.”
What it says about the candidate: “I tread lightly. I’m all about you and giving you the power to rise up with me.”
Verdict: I admit that every time I hear this song Steve Miller Band’s awful “Jet Airliner” chorus gets stuck in my head. That said, it’s a great tune. Empowerment factor: 10.

2008: John McCain for President
Song: “Take a Chance on Me,” by ABBA
Sample lyrics: “Take a chance on me. Come on, give me a break will you? Take a chance on me.”
What it says about the candidate: “I’m not so sure about myself either. But they’ve been grooming me for years for this and I’ve had it up the here with all if it, and come on, can’t you just cut me some slack? Really. Why can’t you please just this once…”
Verdict: Seriously? That’s all you got? A milquetoast Swedish disco band begging for a chance? Desperation factor: 10

Winner: Springsteen’s “Rising.” It’s working-class without being Ford tough. It’s inspirational without being “Happy Days are Here Again.” And it’s Bruce.

Loser: Abba’s “Take a Chance on Me.” No one likes it when you beg for it. Especially via Europop.