Eric D. Decker, January 12, 1997 (California) -
VP candidate for Socialist Labor Party (2020)
Running mate with nominee: Mack William Kitchel (b. 1978)
Popular vote: 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
Mack Kitchel of Georgia, or someone claiming to be him, filed with the FEC for US President under the banner of the Socialist Labor Party on Aug. 14, 2019. His Vice-President was listed as Eric Decker of Atlanta.
The SLP apparently still exists but they have not run a Presidential candidate since 1976 and pretty much shut down all operations in 2008-2011. But don't get too excited, the electioneering was a hoax. There exists a video on Youtube by Decker that chronicles the origin of the campaign as a prank.
The Youtube, posted by "Airrack" on Aug. 23, 2019 follows Decker as he initially thought about running for President himself, only to discover he was below the Constitutionally mandated age of 35. So then he decided to file the name of his friend, Mack Kitchel, as a prank. In the following order, Decker took these steps as he rode around on his skateboard--
Invented a slogan: Vote for Mack or Get Your Money Back (Decker exclaimed, "It doesn't even make sense.")
Repaired a brochure rack he found in the trash.
Ordered campaign t-shirts.
Created campaign pamphlets.
Created campaign wristbands.
Registered Kitchel with the FEC.
Hired actors to be an adoring campaign throng.
Create yard signs and placed them around town.
Surprised Kitchel with a rally and faux news reporter (Decker).
When faced with the final step, Kitchel rolled with it seamlessly as he went out on the street offering to buy votes for as low as 5 bucks a head. My favorite quote from Kitchel in these exchanges, "Be careful to balance the trickiness of how tricky it is to balance," clearly demonstrating that he has a future in politics should he decide to follow that path.
As it was the Kitchel/Decker campaigned appeared to have evaporated rather quickly. Decker's age would have been an obstacle in attaining office in the event of their victory.
Election history: none
Other occupations: video creator, comedian, Youtube personality
Notes:
I miss the presence of the Socialist Labor Party. They were still on the ballot in my early years of voting.
