Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson has endorsed political outsider and Republican businessman Vance McAllister, who will be battling it out December 9 in a special run-off election for a vacant seat in Louisiana’s 5th Congressional district where Robertson and his famous clan are residents.
Willie Robertson, once rumored to be considering a run for the very same seat, appears in a campaign video reminding voters to “get out…and vote for my good buddy Vance McAllister. Let’s send somebody from the 5th District who speaks for us to help turn Washington around.”
Vance McAllister appears at the end of the video and says: “I’m not a politician, but I approve this message.”
He has been promoting his outsider status from the beginning against state Senator Neil Riser, his Republican opponent.
The strategy has worked so far, with Vance McAllister beating 12 other candidates, including state lawmakers, mayors and a former congress member, in an October 16 open primary where he garnered 18 percent of the vote.
However, Neil Riser, who won 32% of the vote in the primary, will be stiff competition for the contested seat, which Rep. Rodney Alexander vacated this summer to take a position in Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration.
But Vance McAllister’s campaign thinks the name-recognition of the Robertsons will help them cross the finish line first.
“I think it gives an added bit of bona fides,” Vance McAllister adviser John Robinson told Roll Call, which posted the campaign video Thursday.
“I heard some people say, <<Oh, we’ve heard of Neil Riser, but we know the Robertsons are behind you>>.”
It’s hard to believe people haven’t heard of the Robertsons, even if they haven’t seen an episode of Duck Dynasty. The show, which follows the lives of the tight-knit duck call-making band of brothers and their families, is the most watched cable reality television show in history, beating out one-time rating juggernauts like American Idol.
This isn’t Willie Robertson’s first foray into political waters. While promoting his show – and squelching rumors of personal political ambitions on Fox News in August – Willie Robertson revealed his candidate pick for 2016.
“I’m curious to know about Jindal,” Willie Robertson said.
“That’s my guy.”
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