Tim Smith, December, 1966 (Virginia) -
VP candidate for Independent (2012)
Running mate with nominee: Steven Ray Tickle (b. 1976)
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
Donald Trump was not the first reality TV candidate.
The Moonshiners television series on the Discovery Channel is described as a "docudrama" about illegal distilling operations in the hill country of Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Carolinas. In the first season, 2011-2012, Virginia residents Steven Ray Tickle and Tim Smith, known simply as "Tickle and Tim," were the major figures.
In an effort to publicize the series, Discovery's promotion of the show included highlighting the pair's campaign for the White House, which usually involved Tickle proselytizing with a jar of moonshine in hand while Tim affirms with "Yeah."
Foreign aid: You take care of your kids first, right? [Tim: Yeah] And then you take care of the other kids in the neighborhood.
Campaign spending reform: I've spent all kinds of money out there campaigning out here and all that. [Tim: Yeah, yeah] Here's my platform right here. See I'm not spending all that money campaigning because I think that money would better be spent for the United States itself.
Boosting the economy: A little bit of moonshine like that [Tim: Yeah] it wouldn't bother the United States to not be taxing it. Everybody's taxes would be lower, everybody would have more money in their pocket which in turns means you got more money in your pocket what are going to do? You're going to go out and spend more.
Me, myself, I am the little man. [Tim: Yeah, yeah] I know what it means to be the United States average person.
Tim: Y'know what I think is that the government is like this [takes a jar of lidded moonshine and turns it upside down]-- It's upside down.
Tickle: [Takes the jar] Here's my platform right here. [Tim: Yeah] If I become President the jar is turning right side around and y'know what happens? [opens lid, takes a swig] Everybody gets a sip. [holds open jar to camera while addressing the viewer] It's your turn for your sip.
The campaign enjoyed a brief viral flurry online and an active "Tickle and Tim" franchise business.
Tim Smith, the VP, was a resident of Climax, Va. where he served as the volunteer Fire Chief. Although he indeed did have experience producing moonshine, after the election he launched his own legal brand, Climax Moonshine.
In the event of a Tickle/Smith victory there would have been a problem with the Constitution since both of them were residents of the same state. Tickle went on to star in a spinoff series and his personal life made the news now and then. Although he made noises about running again in 2016, it apparently didn't happen.
Election history: none
Other occupations: US Army, Fire Chief of Climax, Va., mattress factory maintenance mechanic, moonshiner, legal distiller, television personality
Notes:
I never followed this program but can identify with it to a large degree. My paternal side of the family lived since colonial days in the area of southwest Virginia and moonshining was their main business in the late 1800s to mid-20th century. Starting in the early 1900s, whenever the law would start closing in they would move all the way out here ("a right smart piece") to coastal Washington State and resume operations in the same area where Pat Paulsen was raised. But the first time I encountered moonshine was while visiting a great uncle in 1973 near Clintwood, Va. who had floor to ceiling shelves of the stuff. My father was from Clintwood and helped his older brothers in operating the stills and acting as lookout.
