How to Ruin a Congressional Campaign in One Easy Step

This is somewhat amusing, but the more I look at it, the more it appears that the protagonist isn't as clued out as he initially seemed.

Indiana's second Congressional district is currently being served in Congress by Democrat Joe Donnelly. He's in his first term, having defeated Chris Chocola, the previous representative. I clearly wouldn't have been looking at the details of the Republican nomination, but it turns out that Chocola hadn't been alone. Tony Zirkle ran in the Republican primary in 2004 and 2006, and he's running again this year. Zirkle has been in the news this week, having appeared before a Nazi group on the occasion of Hitler's birthday. Yes, you read that right. Zirkle has claimed that he'd be willing to talk before any group that invites him, and, well, the Nazis invited him. He even argued with one journalist about whether they were actually Nazis or not.

He also told WIMS radio in Michigan City that he didn't believe the event he attended included people necessarily of the Nazi mindset, pointing out the name isn't Nazi, but Nationalist Socialist Workers Party.

Ah, that's much clearer, then.

As it turns out, though, Zirkle has apparently been a fringe candidate all along. Raw Story called him "an outlandish long-shot" who is not supported by the local party leaders. With moves like this, it's hardly a surprise that the Republican party is keeping its distance.