Park Gillespie, the only Republican for “president” still standing on Showtime’s “American Candidate,” is hoping viewers from across the nation will once again support him should he become one of the final two candidates competing in this weekend’s installment of the reality program.
As WorldNetDaily reported, Gillespie, an outspoken Christian, is one of three finalists whittled down from an original group of ten people – ordinary Americans who were put through the paces of running for president, including developing platforms, giving speeches and facing focus groups.
After last Sunday’s show, thousands of viewers used toll-free phone numbers to call in their votes. The candidate who received the fewest votes will be announced at the beginning of this Sunday’s show and the final two will then participate in a debate on the program. Their vice presidential running mates will debate as well.
Following the airing of the program, viewers will once again vote in the head-to-head race. The winner of the “White House” will receive $200,000 and the opportunity to deliver a 15-minute, unedited television speech.
Though the announcement will not be made until Sunday, Gillespie, as the only Republican in the race, feels confident he will advance to the final round.
“This has been one wild ride,” Gillespie told Focus on the Family’s CitizenLink Tuesday. “I think the producers are shocked that we’ve made it this far, but it seems like conservatives all over the country really rocked the vote this week.”
Gillespie’s opponents are two Democrats, one of whom, Malia Lazu, works for a “progressive” 527 political group called Young Voter Alliance. According to Lazu’s resume on the “American Candidate” website, YVA is “a coalition of the League of Pi–ed Off Voters, Hip Hop Political Action Convention, Young Democrats and Stonewall Democrats, and Clickback America.”
His other opponent, Lisa Witter, is public-relations consultant who has worked for the anti-Bush 527 group MoveOn.org. Witter reportedly has talked about using the group’s e-mail list to solicit votes.
Just like last week, the phone polls will open at 9:45 p.m. Eastern time Sunday and remain open for two hours. The polls will be open again from 9:45 to 11:45 p.m. Pacific time.
“One phone gets one vote … use as many phones as you have!” a flyer from Gillespie’s supporters says.
Should Gillespie make the final cut, the phone number to call will be publicized on Gillespie’s site Sunday night.
Gillespie’s platform includes President Reagan’s economic policies for job creation, support for Social Security privatization, and opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion.
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Outspoken Christian ‘American Candidate’ finalist
