Indiana’s gubernatorial race is shaping up to be one of the most lopsided races of the 2012 election cycle. Rep. Mike Pence, a conservative rock star who could have been a top-tier presidential candidate, is set to make road kill of his hapless Democratic opponent on his way to the governor’s mansion. The election of Pence would be one of the best things to ever happen to Indiana, but his path to office got a little bumpier this week thanks to libertarian philanthropist Rupert Boneham.
You might remember Boneham as a bushy-bearded, tie-dyed, three-time contestant on “Survivor,” where he was by far the most popular contestant in the show’s history. However, he’s also the force behind the successful youth-mentoring charity “Rupert’s Kids,” which he has been running since 1991.
On Tuesday, Boneham announced that he had formed a gubernatorial exploratory committee and is considering running for the Libertarian Party nomination. He may have just turned Indiana’s gubernatorial election into a bona-fide three-man race.
With Boneham, the Libertarian Party would have a semi-credible candidate with a decades-long record of community service and as much name recognition as Pence. Boneham’s announcement is already all over the Internet, and the more earned media he gets, the more of a threat he becomes. He might not be the next Jesse Ventura, but he might be the next Kinky Friedman, and Kinky could have been a lot more dangerous if voters were as mad at both parties when he ran as they are now. The question is whether the world’s most likable reality star is ready for primetime. From what I’ve seen so far, he might be — emphasis on “might.”
Boneham has the three qualities that third-party candidates need in order to be successful: access to a fundraising network, a compelling personal story and a good message.
Thanks to his large national fan base, he has the potential to raise the funds he needs to give his third-party run some oxygen. He’s not going to outspend the big boys, but if he plays his cards right, he’ll at least be able to keep his name in the debate.
He has a great personal story: He came from humble origins, but he pulled himself up by his bootstraps and became a successful entrepreneur.
He has a populist, pragmatic message aimed at streamlining bureaucracy. “I have operated my charity for over 20 years without government handouts,” he says on his website, noting that, “Over time, it has become more difficult to help people because of government red tape and roadblocks. This has prompted my decision to explore bringing back the principles of hard work and self-reliance to Hoosier government.” That type of message generally works for outsider candidates, and it counters the stereotype of Libertarians as detached ideologues.
The challenge for Boneham will be getting people to take him seriously. It would be a grotesque understatement to say that the man is unpolished, and his press conference announcing his intentions could best be described as “painful to watch.” He declined to discuss policy, saying that he’ll explain his ideas if and when he formally gets in the race, and generally he didn’t seem to have prepared a lot of answers. Still, there were some flashes of brilliance in the way he delivered his message. He’s very blunt, totally lacking in pretention, and his appearance and attitude are unconventional. Those qualities may have hurt him in his press conference, but with a little practice (and professional campaign staff), they can be forged into potent political weapons.
Now, I’m not saying Boneham can win, or that I want him to. In all likelihood, Mike Pence will win this race handily and go on to be a great governor. However, it would be a big mistake to underestimate Boneham. He could draw enough conservative votes to play spoiler, and if he somehow manages to pass the Democratic sacrifice candidate in the polls, he could give Pence a scare. If nothing else, he will be an entertaining and valuable addition to the debates. And if his message of self-reliance and small government resonate, he might even end up as a “bipartisan” cabinet appointee in a Pence administration.
One free piece of advice, Rupert: You look silly in a suit and tie. You’d look better in a blazer and jeans — and a tie-dyed dress shirt.
Adam Brickley was the founder of the website “Draft Sarah Palin for Vice President” (palinforvp.blogspot.com). He has contributed to Race42012.com and The Weekly Standard’s blog, and is a contributor at Conservatives4Palin.com.