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Do you think that a celebrity who ran for office would win on name recognition alone?

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messiah2012 Donating Member (132 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-24-07 10:27 PM
Original message
Do you think that a celebrity who ran for office would win on name recognition alone?
Let's say that Ben Affleck decided to run for a congressional seat in or around the area where he grew up or in the northeast somewhere. Or let's say some popular NASCAR driver decided to run for a seat in Georgia. Do you think that either of these people would win on just name recoginition? Let's say their platforms were shit and their campaign managers didn't know a pollster from a hole in the wall. If yes, do think that this would be true of every congressional district? Or if they ran against a Rep who is deeply entrenched?
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Gabi Hayes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-24-07 10:30 PM
Response to Original message
1. George Murphy
ring a bell?

any congressman/senator/governor's wife?

not including the obvious here, but, Lurleen Wallace, for example?
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Cleita Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-24-07 10:30 PM
Response to Original message
2. I would like to see a celebrity run against Arnold for Governor.
At least he would be able to match Gov. Groper in his knowledge of how to manipulate publicity in his favor, something the better qualified professional politicians are at a disadvantage at with Arnold.
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rwheeler31 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-24-07 11:02 PM
Response to Original message
3. yes
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bleedingheart Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-24-07 11:06 PM
Response to Original message
4. Yes...as long as their handlers ran a good campaign..
The problem with running anyone just famous...is the baggage....however the more honest they are upfront...the easier the ride to victory because then people can say..."oh shucks..he already let us know he was into threesomes back in the day.."

The key is to get the money...and to get the very best campaign strategists...

You also have to pick no more than 3 issues to campaign on...and make sure they are issues that concern the district....too many issues and you muddy the waters.
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Bullwinkle925 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-24-07 11:06 PM
Response to Original message
5. Well - Ronald Reagan did it . . .
twice - darn it - as Gov. of my state and then as Pres. of my country.

:cry:
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cynatnite Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-24-07 11:06 PM
Response to Original message
6. Probably depends on the area and the office...
and what that celeb has done besides being a celeb in his or her area. It would also depend on what office they're running for. If it's senator I'd say no unless they are an exceptional person who offers real solutions. If it's for house of rep. I'd say they could get away with a few mistakes and a shitty campaign manager. But I think they'd need to have earned a modicum of respect by voters.
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taterguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-24-07 11:21 PM
Response to Original message
7. Richard Petty, King of NASCAR, ran and lost in NC
He was running for Secretary of State. The voters chose someone with more qualifications.
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lpbk2713 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-24-07 11:47 PM
Response to Original message
8. Lynn Swann tried it and lost.



Ran for PA Gov. He's not through yet. He might run for a House seat.
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mondo joe Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-24-07 11:48 PM
Response to Original message
9. Celebrities can't even always sell a movie or TV show on name recognition alone.
I think it can happen - but it has to be the right mix of time, place and personality.
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LibDemAlways Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-25-07 12:17 AM
Response to Original message
10. In California, yes. We have an established pattern of
electing unqualified movie actors to be governor. I'm still utterly embarrassed that the voters in this state fell for the Davis recall and replaced him with Gov. Musclehead.
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LostInAnomie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-25-07 12:27 AM
Response to Original message
11. Oprah could take out anyone from Illinois anytime she wants.
Congressmen, Governor, or Senator. She could probably be President as well. I'm not saying this because I think she is politically skillful. I'm saying it because there are a lot of stupid people in the US.
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HuffleClaw Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-25-07 12:44 AM
Response to Original message
12. i'd say almost always yes
that wrestler governor guy, ronald reagan, hillary, the arnold...

the people are for the most part, stupid.
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mmonk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-25-07 12:47 AM
Response to Original message
13. I helped defeat one in NC. I worked voluntarily for the opponent.
So I think there has to be something of a message that resonates other than their status.
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Selatius Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-25-07 12:48 AM
Response to Original message
14. Yes, in the majority of cases.
People are so poorly informed or so misinformed that it's a real possibility in many places in the United States. I blame the news media and a degraded public education infrastructure, understaffed and underfunded with uneven standards.
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