Sweet embraceable pols: Why is hugging so hard for them?

Politicians get coached on all kinds of things, from debating to necktie selection. Do we need to add hugging to the list?

There’s an argument for that, given New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s super-awkward embrace of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones during Sunday night’s game against the Detroit Lions. The squeeze — which followed a failed high-five attempt and involved some highly irregular chin-to-arm placement —  was widely mocked.

The Cowboys won a playoff game. Chris Christie awkwardly hugged Jerry Jones to celebrate. http://t.co/Z45GS8d75U pic.twitter.com/oJgLllj0Bb

— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) January 5, 2015

Christie’s not the first pol to struggle with a snuggle.

President Obama’s embrace of outgoing press secretary Jay Carney last year was similarly weird.

Sometimes, a hug can resemble a headlock:

And nobody hugs like Vice President “No Personal Space” Biden.