Al Kamen at the Washington Post wrote:
Zirkle, whose top campaign issue is opposition to pornography and prostitution, finished a distant third behind Goshen, Ind., businessman and GOP establishment candidate Luke Puckett and Culver, Ind., newspaper delivery man Joseph Roush. Puckett won with 48 percent of the vote; Zirkle drew 16 percent.
Unclear why he did so badly this time. Maybe it was that outreach effort April 20 when he spoke at an Adolf Hitler birthday celebration sponsored by the National Socialist Workers Party, also known as the Nazis.
In response to a question from the Michigan City, Ind., News-Dispatch on whether he is a Nazi, or sympathizes with them or with white supremacists, Zirkle said he didn't "know enough about the group to either favor it or oppose it."
I don't know what's more shocking, that he didn't know anything about the Nazi party, or that he won 16% of the vote.
He reportedly also told a local radio station he didn't think all the 50 or so people at the party were necessarily Nazis, because the group's name isn't "Nazi" but National Socialist Workers Party. Apparently clues such as the large swastikas or that picture of der Fuehrer right behind him didn't arouse suspicion.
I find Mr. Zirkle's explanation a little hard to swallow. After all, most people of even average intelligence know about the Nazi Party, and can easily recognize the swastika and Adolph Hitler.
What does this mean? I'm not sure. Either a lot of Republicans weren't paying attention to media reports that this candidate had attended a Hitler birthday part, or they just didn't care. At the very least, this is a good example of why you should study up on who's running, and not vote solely on name recognition.
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