GOP Senate Candidate Puts Himself On Dem Ticket

Republican Senator Roger Wicker is facing the fight of his life for reelection in Mississippi. So what is he doing to ensure another six years in Congress? He's apparently painting himself as a Democrat.

A sample ballot reportedly put out by the Senator -- who has been in office for less than a year and could very well lose his race to former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove -- seems designed to deceive voters into thinking he is on the same ticket as Obama-Biden.

The flier, which has been reported in the Delta and Jackson regions of the state, checks off and makes bold the name of every Democratic candidate on the ballot -- plus Wicker. The desired effect is to make recipients believe that, if they vote down the Democratic party line, they should check off Wicker's name as well.

The late-game scheming is reflective not just of how tight the Mississippi Senate race truly is, but how fundamentally the Southern political landscape has shifted with Obama on the ticket. The idea that a Republican Senate candidate in the deep South would actually want to be associated with a black presidential aspirant is downright mind-boggling. At the same time, Wicker may just be trying to stir up enough confusion to siphon off the needed Democratic vote to propel himself to victory. Either way, it's dirty.

Hat Tip: Phil Singer.

Update: The Wicker campaign denies involvement in an the sample ballot. Spokesman Ryan Annison, speaking to Talking Points Memo, says: "The honest to goodness truth is this is the first time we've seen it... At five o'clock the night before the election, I can't say that our opponent's press releases are a priority."

Comments

[LiberalDemIda]

Republican voters need to ask themselves if their party candidates proclaim to hate government so much, why do they lie, cheat, defame, slander, steal, weasel and sell out their wives (think Stevens) to go back every single time?

One more despicable act by a GOPer added to an already extensive list of despicable acts by so many.

Pathetic.

[nuglet304]

sickening. sad and pathetic. i'd even be ashamed to look at my shadow if i still called myself a republican after this campaign.

[LeftLeanWing]

They did this same trick in Maryland during the Governor's Race two years ago.

Didn't Work .....

[UNR]

Yeah, Steele was a black Republican in Maryland who was the incumbent Lt.Governor....he sent out a fake ballot just like this trying to fool what he thought were us "ignorant" black voters....he also used the bumper sticker with his last name over the top of the word Democrat. Nothing worked, he was wiped out.

[LeftLeanWing]

THEY still think we are stupid don't they ....

I was furious to find out that they hired homeless men from Baltimore to hand those phony sample ballots out close to the polling stations.

[AngryAmish]

Richard Gere is running for the Senate?

[sol manita]

haha! i thought the same thing as i was flipping through....too funny

[Bitsko]

He's in a tough race against Diane Lane. Her pro-gerbil attack ad has been very controversial, while his ads are totally in Tibetan. Glad I don't live there.

[mairs]

No, it's The Wicker Man.

[AirForceWx1701]

Yeah, I'm in training in Mississippi, this guy's ads play nonstop- in between the sickening anti-Obama Wrig.ht ads. Funny, you see lots of ads from other candidates about "Mississippi values"- oh, the fun that Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, or the late Richard Pryor could have with that phrase!- but at the end of the day, you see this GOP hack desperately trying to hitch his wagon to the winning team without overtly mentioning anything at all.

[Bitsko]

My late father was a sergeant for 25 years in the Air Force, as well as a raging liberal. Keep up the great work.

[Culturemaven]

Air Force training? Thank you for serving our country. We are much obliged.

[BushSmahers]

With all the evidence of all the crap that takes place, why doesn't the federal government take over the federal election. Get rid of all the propositions that bring out the wingnuts to vote, get rid of bad voting machines and not enough in certain areas and standardize the thing. I'm telling you, you look like a banana republic from here. Canada.

[kevinmcd]

Because that is not the system we have here--our states have real power regarding these voting issues. By law much of this is up to the states. The bad voting machines are a disaster. But I disagree about propositions-they are important to having local power and control on these issues. Many Americans do not trust a large centralized goverment; the power of the states reduces the concentration that leads to corruption and less empowerment for individuals.

[Clay4bc]

So you are saying that there is no corruption in your political system? Please....where have you been for the last 8 years?

[Franb]

And from here in Australia too. we would never tolerate polling booths that demanded people wait for more than 20 minutes to vote. There would be a scandal if someone could plausibly claim that someone's vote hadn't been counted or counted for someone else.

We would never allow private organisations to do voter registration or voter verification. All that has to be done by government employees. We have compulsory voting here too. Nearly 100% of registered voters vote.

We also vote on Saturdays -- always.

Our system is not perfect, far from it, but it is at worst, a respectable measurement of the expressed public will.

[BinKbar]

why doesn't the federal government take over the federal election

Because the USA is not ,yet, a socialist country like Canada.

[Clay4bc]

But you are hoping to be socialist soon? Seriously though....we (meaning Canadians) are not a "socialist" country, and our election system - while it has flaws - is vastly superior to the American system. How you people let (mostly) the Republicans get away with their slimy cheating tactics does make you look really bad to the world - even to the true banana republics. In a democratic country, everyone at least CAN vote - this is not the case in the USA, with such things as "voter purges", etc....so insult Canada all you want, but at least we have the leader the PEOPLE elected. No matter how much I personally dislike Harper - who is our current leader - I do not even for one second think he cheated in any way. Can you say the same about two terms of Bush? What about this election? We will see....

[Franb]

PS: All 'how to vote cards' have to be approved by the Returning Officer -- an independent person. False or misleading how to vote cards can result in candidate disqualification and criminal charges.

[beantowner]

We feel like one, too. It's incredible that an industrialized nation such as ours is subjected to this kind of b.s. with our elections. Third-world countries could probably do it better. :-/

[PT6]

"TRICKSTER"

He sure fits in with the "TRICKSTERS" on Wall Street and on Military Contracts!

[LiberalinDixie]

I'm in Mississippi and WOW... what a proud moment! Ugh! Nothing from the Republicans would surprise me at this point. I have yet to see this mailout but again... I wouldn't put it past him. I did however go to the state's largest newspaper (which has endorsed Obama and Musgrove) and all 3 major network's local websites and not a mention of this. Oh well... wouldn't be the first time something got swept under the rug politically in this state. As we speak I'm watching "Hardball" and just got hit with the GOP's Rev. Wright ad.

It's tough being blue in a red state.

[InformedAmerican]

You are not alone in Mississippi. I, too, am blue!!! It sure would be nice if Mississippi "shows up and shows out" tomorrow by turning this state blue, wouldn't it?!!!

[AKAchip]

I, too, feel your pain. I am southern also-great state of SC and would love to see the people there, just once, vote for their own best interest and not that of the rich ruling class Republicans. As it looks, it won't happen this year, but hope springs eternal. Peace and progress for the ignorant and uninformed. Obama/Bisen 08!!

[anaicram]

I understand. I too live in the south - NC, but we're seeing a huge change. Unlike MS and SC, people are realizing that they must use their voice and vote to improve their lives versus relying on the lies fed for many years. Bottom line is, I need a president that can put someone like Warren Buffett in charge of the Treasury; someone who can increase my 401K because the KNOW how to do this, rather than folks who just take care of their own and leave US to suffer when things go horridly wrong.

[joanVA]

In Virginia, this would work. From canvassing, I can't tell you how many undecideds had no idea who the candidates were for the U.S. Senate.

[bluekatz]

People, these mor0ns have been parading around this country causing all kinds of trouble. Now in the face of elections they are down in the manure pits and lets hope the meth.ane get to them quickly. This is truly sad that these people cannot conduct a fair election in which voters decide who they want. People are so tired of the d!rty tricks they will soon make the republicans pay dearly.

[Carolab]

THAT SHOULD DISQUALIFY HIM.

[TLCB]

Absolutely. He's smiling now but hopefully crying tomorrow

[socialmistfit]

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

[Boboday555]

Nice example you're setting for your kids Mr. Wicker!

[unite4change]

Don't fall for it Mississippi! Don't be fooled.

[prouddemocrat2008]

This is so dirty. Just for that, I hope he loses badly. Mississippi, DO NOT elect this liar!