July 26, 2003 7:35 AM

Is that a dead weasel on your head? Or are you just glad to see me??

Group says Traficant is considering a presidential bid

Now THIS could be interesting....

The man who was the laughingstock of the House of Representatives (that is, before he was sent off to the Big House on bribery, racketeering, and tax evasion convictions) is contemplating a run for the White House.

A group called "Draft Traficant for President 2004" communicated with the imprisoned former Ohio congressman by mail and received permission to start a campaign. They filed a signed "Statement of Candidacy" form with the Federal Election Commission this week....

The group says it plans to get Traficant's name on ballots for primary elections and raise $100,000 to qualify for federal matching funds.

Traficant, a Democrat who represented northeast Ohio in the House for nine terms, was expelled in July 2002 after being convicted in a federal court of racketeering, bribery and tax evasion. The man remembered for his one-minute tirades on the House floor is serving an eight-year prison sentence at the minimum-security Allenwood federal prison in White Deer, Pennsylvania.

But Traficant is no stranger to running a campaign from his prison cell. He ran an unsuccessful jailhouse campaign last year for his redistricted congressional seat. As an independent, he garnered 15 percent of the vote and lost his first race since 1982.

Thankfully, Traficant's chances are about the same as the possibility of my being elected Queen of England. Nonetheless, a Traficant campaign would not lack for comic potential. At the very least, his campaign travel budget would be minimal, since he'll be campaigning from his prison cell. Even if he is elected, the Pennsylvania White House will be a 6' x 8' cell in a federal pen. Come to think of it, Shrub and Traficant are both liars; it's just Traficant who's been convicted.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on July 26, 2003 7:35 AM.

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