CNN: Politician saves his rival's life

"ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (AP) -- State Sen. John Giannetti was waiting for his take-out order of Italian food at a Maryland restaurant on Monday when he saw a man choking. He rushed over, performed the Heimlich maneuver and dislodged a chunk of seafood -- saving the life of his political rival.

The choking man, Jim Rosapepe, is challenging Giannetti in the Democratic primary for the suburban Washington district.

"It's one of those really weird, cosmic things," Giannetti told The [Annapolis] Capital. He said Rosapepe was hunched over and moving toward him in distress, so he decided to try performing the Heimlich. (Watch rivals recount their life-saving night -- 1:42)

Rosapepe thanked his opponent for saving him.

"Obviously, it's an incredible coincidence, and a happy coincidence," said Rosapepe, a member of the University of Maryland system's Board of Regents.

The race is still on, but Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller said he hoped Monday night's incident would soften competition between the candidates.

"Maybe this means we'll see a more uplifting campaign as a result," Miller told The Washington Post. "I mean, I would think you'd be very hard-pressed to say anything bad about a man who saved your life."


Its one of those really wierd cosmic things dude.