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[–] 8016632? 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Both ends of a political handshake are usually a power play. When you watch a politician's body language you need to also become aware of the setting. How many cameras are on him? Where are they? Who is behind them?

Standing too close, behind, too far away, these can be seen as demonstrating a weakness compared to the other person. Clasping their hand for too long so that everyone can get multiple photos to cherry pick just the right one [facial expressions of the parties etc].

So keeping a political handshake short, or using the first clasp to help maneuver the two parties relative to one another, is just normal political theater.