Filed under: News, Politics, President Obama, Race and Civil Rights
Carl Paladino got caught sending out racist e-mails that included images of animal sex.
He is pushing an idea for welfare recipients to live in unused prison space and learn lessons in personal hygiene.
And in a television interview this week, he said he doesn't believe President Barack Obama is a practicing Christian but in fact "worships himself (watch below)."
Now he, Buffalo businessman and G.O.P. candidate for governor, is throwing a scare in to the Republican power structure in New York, where he faces former Republican Senator Rick Lazio - the party's favored son.
Paladino represents the nuttiest of all the candidates around the country trying to tap in to the Tea Party/Sarah Palin/Glenn Beck-inspired mentality of social conservatism, smaller government and Obama bashing.
Polls indicate that Lazio still leads Paladino in a head-to-head race but also show that Paladino is gaining momentum.
Paladino's campaign got an unexpected boost recently when The New York Post, an influential right-leaning tabloid, said Paladino talks about issues that people care about while Lazio "is barely saying anything."
It must be tough for Lazio to devise a political strategy against Paladino.
He can't just start acting wild and making crazy statements like Paladino, because it will look too phony - even for a politician.
But if he sits silently waiting for Paladino to implode, he looks like a do-nothing - especially if Paladino continues to connect with voters as he's been doing.
Though a political newcomer, Paladino has done a masterful job in letting the public see all of his political warts and barreling forward.
For example, Paladino has acknowledged that he fathered a daughter outside of his marriage. He has turned that potential stumbling block into an asset to some by saying he supports and keeps a strong family bond with the girl.
Paladino still faces an uphill battle to knock off Lazio, but he can take some comfort in the results of the Alaska senate race, where little-known, Tea Party-backed candidate Joe Miller upset party-backed incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
Unfortunately, it looks like anything is possible this election season.