Saturday, May 11, 2024

Ansleigha's NAT race for governor is 'a contest between two hippies'

KOEURN, Asl. -- One of the country's closest races for governor is once again in Ansleigha, where two baby-boomer Nationalist candidates are vying for their party's nomination.

Paul Biddington (pronounced "Bide-ding-ton"), a state senator from Churchtown, was the first Nationalist to announce his candidacy for governor.

Biddington, who has previously ran for statewide office unsuccessfully, is eager to take on Conservative Gov. Sam Baskingwood, who is seeking reelection.

"I'm anxious to take a crack at Sam," Biddington told a reporter from the Grassadellia City Times, who shadowed the candidate for a day. "Sam Baskingwood is a typical Conservative: rich, arrogant, doesn't care about the poor, doesn't care about seniors, doesn't really care about veterans. That's why I'm running against him. I care about all those things. And I know Ansleigha inside and out and am willing to fight for our state," he added.

Baskingwood, a former high-profile actor who has won a multitude of awards in Hollywood, is seeking reelection in a state that has recently leaned in favor of Conservatives.

Indeed, polling on a hypothetical head-to-head match up between Baskingwood and Biddington show the governor leading his NAT challenger by 17 percentage points.

However, Independent businesswoman and firebrand Rosamond Burkes has joined the governor's race, throwing the race into a three-way contest between Baskingwood, his eventual NAT opponent, and Burkes herself.

Burkes' entry into the scenario makes the race unpredictable.

A race that previously would have been an easy win for Baskingwood is now in doubt.

The question is, even in a three-way race, can Nationalists beat the popular Baskingwood?

They're hoping the answer is 'yes.'

Also vying for the NAT's nod is art teacher and psychology professor Agatha Houndsler of Danaecke.

A first time candidate, Houndsler was little-known when she announced her candidacy back in February.

Since that time, she has gained a strong following, particularly among women.

A self-described "hippie," Houndsler has championed women's rights, increased taxes on the rich, increased government spending, and a strong focus on fighting climate change.

She and Biddington agree on most issues, with their policies virtually alike on many top issues for NAT voters.

Both are anti-gun. Both want to fight climate change with tax increases. Both believe the wealthy are paying too little taxes. Both strongly support women's and LGBTQ+ rights.

"The difference comes down to tone and temperament," says Houndsler, in an interview with the Grassadellia City Times.

"Paul is very negative. He's very critical, he's very catastrophizing. He's kind of a 'Negative Nelly,'" says Houndsler. "I'm more hopeful and optimistic," she says.

Biddington says he is a hippie, too.

"I fought in Vietnam. I saw how useless and pointless that war was. So, when I came back home, I became fiercely anti-war. And I saw how the rich were exploiting poor people. How men were trying to limit women's rights. How straight people were bigoted toward gay people. I saw all that. And that has shaped my political views and my persona."

Asked if he's negative, as Houndsler claims, Biddington admits, "I kind of am."

"I am negative about Sam Baskingwood. He's benefitting the rich at the expense of the middle class and low-income people. I'm negative about Baskingwood because he's favoring coal companies and big business over the environment. I'm negative about Conservatives because they want to take away a woman's right to choose what she does with her own body. So, yes, I kind of am negative about that stuff."

He adds that "politics are not all sunshine and rainbows and peace signs, like Agatha Houndsler portrays it to be."

A recent poll conducted by the Grantham Institute, a nonpartisan think tank located in neighboring New Portsmouth, found both Biddington and Houndlser garnering 50% support among Ansleigha's NAT voters.

"This race is split 50-50," Biddington told the Times reporter. "It's going to come down to the wire. It's going to be incredibly close."

"I think I'm the candidate that is best suited to take on Sam Baskingwood. I have the toughness and the courage to confront him on all of his policies. Agatha thinks she is better suited. She thinks sending 'positive vibes' will somehow help our state's political problems and solve our issues. I disagree with that," said Biddington.

Houndsler disputed that characterization, telling the Times reporter that "Paul chooses to dwell in a negative space," and that she has "to be in a positive space."

She also pointed out that polls that measure her support versus Baskingwood's show her either trailing slightly or ahead of the governor.

"I poll better. That's the fact. It's just a fact. My numbers are better than Paul's. And I think voters need to consider that when they cast their ballot on May 28," Houndsler said.

For his part, Baskingwood has criticized both NAT candidates, calling Biddington "a left-wing zealot" and Houndsler a "feel-good, DEI-obsessed, liberal academic."

DEI stands for "diversity, equity and inclusion," something Houndsler has strongly advocated in her run for governor.

Rosamond Burkes has been similarly critical of the two NAT candidates, calling Paul Biddington "Paul Cry-ington," because of his repeated complaints and gripes about Baskingwood.

Burkes also calls Houndsler "Hagatha Houndsler," criticizing Houndsler for being a "hag."

The Independent candidate also has a degrading nickname for Baskingwood, calling him "Sell-out Sam," for selling-out to political correctness and the party establishment.

"All three of my opponents are pansies. If you want a strong governor who has some backbone and who doesn't stand down from a fight, vote for me," Burkes posted on X, formerly Twitter, last week.

Biddington took issue with her tweet, pointing out that he is the only veteran in the race.

"I was the only candidate who served our country in the armed forces," Biddington said in an interview on local morning television in Koeurn. "All my opponents are big on political attacks, but I'm the only candidate who is truly battle-tested."

So far, Baskingwood has raised $6.8 million in his bid for reelection. Biddington has raised $4.2 million and Houndsler $5.4 million.

Burkes has raised $2.6 million, although, as a multi-millionaire, she has a vast personal fortune that she can use to boost her campaign coffers.

No matter who wins the May 28 NAT nomination, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: the nation will, once again, look to Ansleigha on election night for one of the country's closest governor's races.

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