Back in February, when her name was first floated as a possible successor to Louisiana Senator David Vitter, few voters outside of the porn-watching community--granted, a very sizable demographic--had ever heard of Stormy Daniels. The website devoted to drafting this reluctant candidate seemed like a joke. Wasn't it simply a poke in the eye at Vitter's own sexual proclivities, which included frequent stops at a Canal Street bordello and a big box of Pampers?
Maybe not. Daniels, the star of more than one hundred films, including The Witches of Breastwick and Trailer Trash Nurses 6, appears to be taking the idea very seriously. She hasn't yet agreed to run against Vitter. But yesterday Daniels began a "listening tour" of the state, which will allow her to gauge her chances and hear the concerns of potential constituents. Her first stop was in Baton Rouge, where she drew a small crowd of fans and media. Daniels was quick to assure her audience that her film career would not distract her from the business of governance.
"She said her contract with the porn studio Wicked Pictures is drawing to a close," reports Michelle Millhollon of the Baton Rogue Advocate. "She said she is only obligated to appear on camera for the rest of the year and that, at age 30, she is becoming old for a porn star." Daniels added that "entering the adult entertainment business carries a lot of responsibility."
CNN took the high road with Daniels in this video, having clearly briefed Kiran Chetry to avoid double-entendres at all cost. Daniels does acknowledge that the movement to draft her is the direct outcome of Vitter's erotic hijinks: "I hear the word karma a lot." That aside, she's not terribly impressive--she sounds like a pleasant, presentable woman who just happens to take her clothes off for a living.
And what about the reaction on the Web? There was a lively conversation over at Twitter, where Daniels has yet to attain much in the way of credibility. Said @Redstickrant: "Is the Stormy Daniels thing serious? Dunno. I think someone should, um, take a pole." Nor was @anicajeanne impressed by the aspiring candidate's appearance on CNN: "Senate hopeful Stormy Daniels sounds as aimless and disjointed as Palin when she talks. Draw your own conclusion." There was also a partisan note from @rickblanton: "Stormy Daniels should have ran during the Clinton admin. Could have traded favors and got something done."
Despite Vitter's status as damaged goods, it still seems unlikely that Daniels will end up claiming his seat (please, no jokes). Yet skeptics should be reminded of an important precedent: the 1987 election of porn star Ilona "Cicciolina" Staller to the Italian Parliament. True, she served only a single term. But Staller went on to form the tongue-in-cheek Partito dell'Amore (Love Party), whose platform included legalization of brothels, improved sex education, and the creation of "love parks" throughout the Italian peninsula.
Maybe not. Daniels, the star of more than one hundred films, including The Witches of Breastwick and Trailer Trash Nurses 6, appears to be taking the idea very seriously. She hasn't yet agreed to run against Vitter. But yesterday Daniels began a "listening tour" of the state, which will allow her to gauge her chances and hear the concerns of potential constituents. Her first stop was in Baton Rouge, where she drew a small crowd of fans and media. Daniels was quick to assure her audience that her film career would not distract her from the business of governance. "She said her contract with the porn studio Wicked Pictures is drawing to a close," reports Michelle Millhollon of the Baton Rogue Advocate. "She said she is only obligated to appear on camera for the rest of the year and that, at age 30, she is becoming old for a porn star." Daniels added that "entering the adult entertainment business carries a lot of responsibility."
CNN took the high road with Daniels in this video, having clearly briefed Kiran Chetry to avoid double-entendres at all cost. Daniels does acknowledge that the movement to draft her is the direct outcome of Vitter's erotic hijinks: "I hear the word karma a lot." That aside, she's not terribly impressive--she sounds like a pleasant, presentable woman who just happens to take her clothes off for a living.
And what about the reaction on the Web? There was a lively conversation over at Twitter, where Daniels has yet to attain much in the way of credibility. Said @Redstickrant: "Is the Stormy Daniels thing serious? Dunno. I think someone should, um, take a pole." Nor was @anicajeanne impressed by the aspiring candidate's appearance on CNN: "Senate hopeful Stormy Daniels sounds as aimless and disjointed as Palin when she talks. Draw your own conclusion." There was also a partisan note from @rickblanton: "Stormy Daniels should have ran during the Clinton admin. Could have traded favors and got something done."
Despite Vitter's status as damaged goods, it still seems unlikely that Daniels will end up claiming his seat (please, no jokes). Yet skeptics should be reminded of an important precedent: the 1987 election of porn star Ilona "Cicciolina" Staller to the Italian Parliament. True, she served only a single term. But Staller went on to form the tongue-in-cheek Partito dell'Amore (Love Party), whose platform included legalization of brothels, improved sex education, and the creation of "love parks" throughout the Italian peninsula.
