Charlie the Tuna, 1961 (Chicago, Ill.) -
VP candidate for Finicky Party (1992)
Running mate with nominee: Morris the Cat II (ca1978-1997)
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
According to the July 22, 1992 Cincinnati Enquirer, when Morris the Cat II made his second run for the Presidency his running-mate was StarKist Tuna animated spokesfish Charlie the Tuna. Both commercial mascots were handled at the time by the Leo Burnett Company, an advertising agency.
StarKist had originally owned 9-Lives cat food (with Morris the Cat in the ads) and StarKist Tuna (with Charlie the Tuna) but sold out to Heinz in 1963, who in 1992 still own both brands. Comedian (and later film director) Adam McKay wrote Morris' pun-filled Presidential announcement speech.
Charlie was created by Burnett adman Tom Rogers (d. 2005) in 1961. He based the character on Jazz hipster Henry Nemo (1909-1999). Charlie was voiced by Herschel Bernardi (1923-1986), who had been blacklisted in Hollywood during the McCarthy Era. The animation was by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises.
In the tradition of suicide food mascots, Charlie continually wants to be caught by StarKist because he has "good taste," but is always rejected because StarKist wants tuna that "tastes good." Usually the rejection came in the form of a note attached to a fish hook that read, "Sorry, Charlie," which became a wider popular expression in the 1960s and beyond. I remember those earliest Charlie the Tuna ads with great fondness.
Aside from mention of him at the campaign announcement, Charlie the Tuna apparently was not a strong presence in the Morris the Cat II for President effort. There were some slight problems with Charlie taking office in the event the Morris/Charlie ticket actually won. First off, the standard bearer was a cat. Secondly, Charlie at age 31 was below the Constitutionally mandated 35 years. Third, he was a fish and fourth he was a cartoon, although technically there is probably nothing in the Constitution that specifically forbids that-- but I'm not a legal expert.
Morris the Cat II died in 1997 and one of the subsequent Morris the Cats ran for President in 2012. Charlie the Tuna ran for President himself in 2016 as "America's alTUNAtive candidate." I found one reference suggesting he also ran for President in either 1964 or 1968 but cannot verify the year.
Election history:
2016 - US President (Independent) - defeated
Other occupations: fish
Notes:
Charlie was practically retired after Bernardi died in 1986 but the character was revived in 1999.
