Here’s a funny introductory ad from Democrat Paul Clements, a college professor running against Republican Rep. Fred Upton in Michigan’s 6th District. Clements tells the audience that “Indiana Jones made being a professor cool. I’m not sure I can pull that off.” (To be fair, Steven Spielberg left all the scenes where Indy graded papers in Raiders of the Lost Ark on the cutting room floor.)
Clements continues by saying that he’s been to foreign lands “not for treasure, but to help people in the Peace Corps.” Clements says that while Indiana Jones “is known for his fear of snakes,” his fear is “a Congress that puts special interests first,” and he vows to “fight for good jobs and college affordability.” Clements does tell us at the end that yes, he’s also afraid of snakes. Of course, he’s trying to get to Capitol Hill, so he’s going to need to be prepared to deal with all sorts of reptiles.
Clements has a tough task ahead of him in this Kalamazoo seat. While Mitt Romney only carried this district 50-49, Upton is an entrenched incumbent who has never come close to losing re-election. The DCCC has added Clements to their Emerging Races program, but no outside groups appear to have reserved any ad time here. This seat’s median income and education levels are also below the national averages, so it might even be turf that’s somewhat friendly to Trump.
However, thanks to a key endorsement from Bernie Sanders, Clements had amassed a respectable $448,000 war chest at the end of June, so if Trump takes another dive nationally and becomes a liability for people like Upton, Clements might be able to capitalize. And hey, if the Indiana Jones franchise could survive that nuking the fridge moment in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, anything is possible.
Paul Clements doesn't need to search for buried treasure when he has us behind him. Please chip in $3 to his campaign today.