Libertarian pizza delivery driver could decide U.S. Senate election
RALEIGH - The man who might determine the outcome of North Carolina's U.S. Senate race this year makes his living delivering pizza, conducts most of his campaigning via YouTube videos and is considering whether to become a driver for Uber, the taxi-like car service.
Political experts and polls say Libertarian Sean Haugh of Durham isn't likely to win, although he says he can.
But the polls say Haugh appears to be pulling some voters who otherwise would pick lawyer and former bank executive Kay Hagan, the incumbent Democrat, and many more voters from the Republican candidate, state House speaker and former business executive Thom Tillis.
In the face of the tens of millions of dollars being spent by the mainline campaigns and their outside supporters and detractors to flood North Carolina's airwaves, computer screens and mailboxes, low budget may be a generous term to describe the Haugh campaign.
Haugh, whose name rhymes with "saw," estimates he has spent $7,000. "I'll be surprised if I get over ($10,000)," he said.
Social media outlets - Facebook, Twitter and, especially, YouTube - have been Haugh's primary tools to reach out to the voters.
He has made 30 videos since March in the basement rec room of campaign manager Rachel Mills' home. Next to a poker table covered with Hot Wheels tracks, and a few feet from an overflowing toy box (Mills has two young children whose nap times affect the shooting schedule), Haugh sits at a bar and talks to the camera. He has a craft beer close at hand, opens with a friendly "howdy" and quickly outlines his positions.
The video titles include "Stop the War on Drugs," "Delete the NSA," "Term Limits for Reporters" and "Pollution is a Crime."
The channel has about 235 subscribers. The viewership runs from 125 on the most recent missive, posted Monday, to 13,850 for his opening statement, issued six months ago.
Haugh's campaign page on Facebook has about 1,125 likes. On Twitter, he has about 400 followers.
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Libertarian pizza delivery driver could decide U.S. Senate election