Interested in the presidency? Apply here. No speaking required

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Want to run for president without having to deliver stump speeches -- or having to speak at all?

The Washington Nationals have put out the casting call for its ‘racing presidents,’ the costumed characters who race around the ballpark during the fourth inning of home games.

To qualify to be one of the oversize mascots, applicants must be between 5-foot-7 and 6-foot-6, age 18 or older and strong enough to wear a 45-pound costume for several hours. In addition, applicants must be fast, capable of running from center field to home plate in 40 seconds.

Racing presidents must also commit to work at least 35 games.

But hey, you don’t have to participate in any debates.

The club receives about 200 to 300 applicants a year, according to Tom Davis, the club’s entertainment manager. About 50 applicants will be selected for tryouts, based on responses to a questionnaire. The tryouts will be held, naturally, on Presidents Day weekend.

Winners of the job have included college students and government workers.

The part-time work comes with a salary, but club officials declined to reveal the amount.

While only George, Tom, Abe and Teddy -- the presidents depicted on Mount Rushmore -- race during games, the club selects about 15 to 20 people.

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-- Richard Simon in Washington