Eric Rouse, one of the whopping 17 Republicans vying for the late Rep. Walter Jones’ (R-NC) seat in an upcoming special election, led the pack with the first, truly zany campaign ad in which he skeet shoots various Democratic positions and proposals.
“I’m Eric Rouse,” the ad opens to a heavy drumbeat as the candidate performs a casual lean on a tractor. “If I ran my business like they run Washington, I’d be broke or in jail,” he adds, speaking over video of him solemnly nodding at a construction worker.
“When Trump took office, he flipped the switch,” he says while — you guessed it — flipping an industrial light switch.
Rouse then extols Trump’s “booming economy” and says that the President will need supporters in the House to keep it going.
Rouse and a slo-mo pack of people clad in jeans and Oakleys walk out on a field. “Trump needs allies to help shoot down this socialist radical agenda,” he says while taking aim at a clay disk.
Boom! He hits another disk labeled “anti-gun.” Boom! There goes another called “govt healthcare.” Boom! “Green new deal” is toast.
The camera pans back to Rouse, standing in the field and looking into the camera with a jaunty hand on the hip. “I’m Eric Rouse and I approve this message because in the House,” pause for a one-handed gun cock — “I’ll have Trump’s back.”
Maybe a little weirdness is required to stand out in a field that currently totals 26 candidates, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. Jones died on Feb. 10 and the special election primary will be held April 30.
