Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Jeff





Jeff, March 27, 1908 (San Francisco, Calif.) -

VP candidate for Bughouse Party (1908)

Running mate with nominee: Augustus Mutt (b. 1907)
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/483

The campaign:

Bud Fisher's comic strip characters Mutt and Jeff had a formula that anticipated the dynamics of Abbott and Costello-- the fast talking get-rich-quick schemer coupled with the stubby dim-witted child man. The characters met in an institution for the insane, so when the wildly popular duo ran for the White House it seemed only natural they would use the banner of the Bughouse Party. Probably could not get away with using that party name today.

Election history: none

Other occupations: insane asylum inmate, racetrack gambler

Notes:
Quite possibly the first cartoon characters to run for President and VP.