Basil Marceaux's 'eccentric' campaign video
A Tennessee gubernatorial candidate's obviously unscripted campaign ad is the latest viral hit of the 2010 elections
Basil Marceaux, a Republican candidate for governor of Tennessee, recently took to the airwaves to pitch his credentials to voters in an unscripted 60-second video clip that quickly went viral, thanks to Marceaux's "eccentric," hesitant performance. His similarly unpolished website has also garnered attention from snarky web critics. Marceaux's policies include fining anyone who doesn't carry a firearm, planting crops for alternative fuels in vacant state lots, and offering immunity for state crimes to anyone who votes for him in 2010. "Oh boy," says Sean M. at Wonkette, "this is a "masterpiece." Amateur Senate candidates Ernest J. Pagels and Alvin Greene pale in comparison: "We just want to live in this man's brain forever." Marceaux's stump speech "resembles a nervous fifth grader giving an oral book report," says Tommy Christopher at Asylum, but he is inexperienced. Only time — and perhaps his "marvelous" website — will let voters know if he's "more sage than he's given credit for." Watch the video here:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Democrats: How to rebuild a damaged brand
Feature Trump's approval rating is sinking, but so is the Democratic brand
-
Unraveling autism
Feature RFK Jr. has vowed to find the root cause of the 'autism epidemic' in months. Scientists have doubts.
-
'Two dolls': Can Trump sell Americans on austerity?
Feature Trump's tariffs may be threatening holiday shelves but they've handed Democrats a 'huge gift'
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy