Actually it comments like yours that are tasteless, it was a joke. In fact a joke most people would find enjoy, and means that he probably would not run. Gees, you obviously don't live in the South.
Some things just aren't funny. I don't care who you are.
As a one time cancer victim (who could end up there again) I was not insulted. It was kinda funny.
I joked about chemo being a great weight loss plan...not that I had any to lose which was to my disadvantage. But my joke made a once heavy lady laugh in the waiting room.