GOP Senate Candidate Wrestles An Alligator In His First Ad

A tea party-backed Senate candidate wants to take his alligator wrestling skills from the Louisiana swamps to the swamps of Washington, D.C.

In his first ads of the Louisiana Senate race, retired Air Force colonel Rob Maness says he'd "stand up to the career politicians -- and the alligators." The candidate is one of three Republicans hoping to unseat the vulnerable Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) this year.

Maness spent $50,000 on the radio and television ads, which went up on the air Thursday.

In the television ad, Maness rides an airboat and wraps tape around an alligator's snout as he pledges to repeal the Affordable Care Act, fight wasteful spending and protect gun rights.

"Here in Louisiana you learn to be tough," Maness says. "One moment of weakness and the alligators could eat you alive."

Maness also picked up some much-needed steam Thursday as he received an endorsement from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R). He is considered a grassroots-backed alternative to Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.).

Cassidy, Maness and state Rep. Paul Hollis (R) will all be on the same ballot as Landrieu November 4. If no candidate reaches 50 percent of the vote the race will continue to a December runoff.