Mike Gravel Declares Intention to Run As An Independent; Country Fails to Notice

Mike Gravel doesn’t want to go away:

“Hold out your hand, take your thumb and connect it to your little finger. What do you get,” Gravel asked his on looking audience. “A third party!” he answered.

“I’m running as a Democrat right now, and my string is going to run out in February. It’s already run out; I just don’t know it,” Gravel said to a small group of supporters. “If I want to stay in this election all of the way until next November, I will have to make a decision: ‘Will I go as a third party?’ Obviously you can figure that out.” The implication is that he will.

It’s one thing for an insurgent candidate catching fire to run as an independent; that would be understandable if Ron Paul decided to do so. Gravel seems to be doing so just to make a point. Unfortunately, he’s too rabid and difficult to understand for anyone not already supporting him to understand what that point is.

I would say we would miss him, but the debates have been far more substantial since he left.

On the bright side, unlike the apprentice, Gravel can drive his own taxi while leaving.