"A real transformation comes over him when he sits down with the Sheikh - he becomes all quiet, very much the model pupil, " Raja's wife, Khadija, said.

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The irony, of course, is the moment he comes back is when things are just miserable financially over there.

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However, he does worry about one thing when it comes to emphasizing vegetables over meat.

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He stiffens when it comes to the first rounds of group hugging ("Always over the left shoulder, so it's heart-to-heart, " says Foreman).

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The famous singer might be OK with his mug all over TV and film, but he apparently is a bit apprehensive when it comes to his face on his art.

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That undershoot was largely due to lower-than-expected spending on social security payments, which departments cannot easily control (though the Secretary of State for Welfare and Pensions would say he has helped to keep unemployment down.) But ministers have also over-delivered when it comes to squeezing administrative budgets.

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Colleagues in the Democratic Party, however, say he is more conservative when it comes to issues such as defence spending and family values - which could help to win over wavering Republicans.

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