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Get To Know Your 2012 Fringe Candidates

http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/Commodore%20Skahill/The%20Colin%20McEnroe%20Show%2006-21-2012.mp3

In the audio: Colin talks to three outsider candidates who impressed people. Also, Jill Sobule and the McLovins take a crack at our fringe candidate song. 

Early in this campaign cycle, I realized that I was far more entertained by and interested in some of the fringe candidates showing up at debates. 

And by "fringe candidates" I mean candidates who have no support, no money, and no chance.
 
I don't mean "lunatic fringe." There's nothing crazy about most of these candidates except their willingness to give up their time on a pre-lost cause. I sometimes call them "hobo candidates" because of their predicament, which is the electoral equivalent of riding the rails with their bedrolls on their backs, playing sad songs on their harmonicas and being excluded from pretty much everything.
 
They often bond with one another around that issue: being excluded from everything. Also around the issue of actually being interested in issues.
 
Today on the show, three hobo candidates who impressed me in the current races - races from which they all basically are out. 
 
Leave your comments below, e-mail colin@wnpr.org or Tweet us @wnprcolin.

Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. Colin can be reached at colin@ctpublic.org.

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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.