Wednesday's GOP should carry a disclaimer: NOT a Saturday Night Live skit.
It was that amazing.
And it had nothing to do with the ongoing conflict between the Tea Party and the Republican establishment.
In fact, the sober-suited Gov. Butch Otter, running for a third term, and his Tea Party challenger, state Sen. Russ Fulcher, were largely relegated to serving as bemused bystanders as the proceedings were happily hijacked by two highly entertaining, long-shot candidates.
There was Walt Bayes, a full-bearded Santa Claus look-alike and abortion opponent, who's the father of 16, and Harley Brown, a leather-clad biker with a pocketful of cigars, a history of being slapped with restraining orders and, according to him, a direct line to God.
(The Almighty allegedly wanted Brown, who has a "master's in raising hell," to run for president.)
"I'm about as politically correct as your proverbial turd in a punch bowl," Brown explained.
As you watch the highlights , give thanks to Otter, who made sure Bayes and Brown got their moment on the stage by insisting on their presence at the debate. We all owe the governor a debt of gratitude.
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