Everett native Lisa Witter made it through the second episode of “American Candidate” on Showtime Sunday night. Witter is one of 10 finalists on the show, traveling across the country to try to win $200,000 and have a chance to address the nation. We’re tracking her progress each week.
Witter ended the second episode as the front-runner. The finalists were challenged to encourge people to vote for them by calling a toll-free number.
Witter took in 38 percent of the votes, mostly by mobilizing e-mail contacts shed had from previous political experience in New Hampshire.
“In todays world, retail politics doesnt just mean shaking hands and kissing babies,” Witter said. “Now its also e-mail box to e-mail box.”
Witter secured a base of support over e-mail and said that gave her more time to stop and listen to folks on the street, rather than dropping a flier in their hands and walking away. But while winning was good, shes already feeling like shes got a target on her chest.
“Its better to come in second or third than to be first because then people are gunning at you,” Witter said on the show. “People feel like I have this machine behind me, and I do; its called the people.”
Entrepreneur and all-around-annoying-guy Bob Vanech from Santa Monica, Calif., got the boot after delivering a pathetic speech and handing out fliers that had the wrong phone number on them. After a debate between Vanech and Joyce Riley, the remaining finalists unanimously showed Vanech the exit.
This week, the candidates head to Allentown, Pa., where sparks begin to fly between them. A teaser for Sunday nights episode sets up a rivalry between our Lisa and Malia Lazu, another young female progressive candidate. Tune in at 9 p.m. Sunday to see who gets voted off the ballot.
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