June 08, 2018 04:19 PM UTC

WATCH: The Most Godawful Campaign Ad You Will Ever See

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• by: Colorado Pols

Democratic congressional candidate Levi Tillemann has struggled to gain traction in the CD-6 primary to challenge Rep. Mike Coffman in November. After failing to scandalize some sharp primary elbows from national Democrats into grassroots support, Tillemann bizarrely promised to drop out of the race–or not–based on the results of a poll he later failed to disclose. It’s a story that plays out often enough as minor candidates reckon with the humiliation of not being a real contender.

But this time, Tillemann may have found a way to leave a lasting impression.

By…macing himself.

As for the point that Tillemann was making, that teachers in schools should be equipped with nonviolent defense tools such as mace…well, sure. But this exceedingly graphic demonstration of the effects of being pepper sprayed was far from necessary, if anything making a joke of what most people would consider to be a deadly serious matter. And, well folks…

Sorry, that is not an image that wins votes. It might make viewers lose their appetites, votes not so much.

But it is fun to watch candidates fail so memorably! We won’t soon forget this.