The Ability to Travel Faster Is Politicians' Favorite Superpower

Elections are supposed to be about politics and public policy and big issues. And this election has its share of all that, given the stakes.

But elections are also about people -- the kind of people who want to run for federal office. And we at AOL News wanted to get a better sense of just who these people are.

So rather than asking a bunch of boring policy questions, we invited candidates for the House and Senate to answer 10 mostly fun questions. We got a response rate of about 5 percent. And while the results aren't exactly scientifically valid, they are still pretty interesting. Here's one of them:

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Nearly half of the candidates said they'd like super travel speed.

If you could choose, what one superpower would you like to have?

Clearly the endless grind of schlepping across districts and states takes its toll on candidates.

At least, that's the conclusion to be drawn by the fact that the most popular superpower candidates said they'd pick, if they could choose one, is the ability to travel faster -- fly, have super speed, time travel, teleport themselves, etc. -- which 46 percent named.

Other superpowers:

Marlin Stutzman, the Republican candidate for Indiana's 3rd Congressional District, wants Spider-Man's qualities.

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There's probably no politician on the planet who doesn't want to be seen, but Vernon Harrison, the Republican candidate for Massachusetts' 9th Congressional District, said he'd like the power of invisibility so he could "fight crime and expose lies that affect the masses, not to mention get into the Super Bowl."

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Merlin Froyd, the Republican candidate for California's 28th Congressional District, wants "adamantium claws like Wolverine. It would make shaving much easier, as well as removing staples, of course."

Courtesy of Tracey Smith / Getty Images

Tracey Smith, the Democratic candidate for Texas' 12th Congressional District, wants X-ray vision. Makes sense, since it will let him easily see through his opponent's arguments.

Best answer:

"I'm sending my answer by mental telepathy. You should have it ... now!"
-- Jim Holbert, Democratic candidate for Kentucky's 5th Congressional District

Most honest answer:

Ability to "get the suite on the 50-yard line for the Super Bowl."
-- Gerald Hashimoto, Republican candidate for California's 9th Congressional District

Find other survey results here.