August 23, 2023 03:16 PM UTC

Break a Leg, Boss! Wait, Not Literally!

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• by: Colorado Pols

NBC News reports from Milwaukee, the site of tonight’s Republican vice presidential debate, where Republican dark horse candidate Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota had an unusual problem on the way to his spot on stage:

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum injured his leg playing basketball here Tuesday, leaving in doubt his participation in the first Republican presidential debate Wednesday night, two sources close to the governor told NBC News.

Burgum, 67, was taken to a local emergency room and later discharged, one campaign source said. The source later confirmed that the governor has a high-grade tear of his Achilles tendon and requires crutches to walk.

The source said that Burgum will decide whether to participate in the two-hour event after completing a walk-through of the debate hall Wednesday afternoon.

“Walk-through” is an unfortunate choice of words for a man on crutches, but there’s little question Gov. Burgum needs very much to be on stage tonight with the rest of the Republican single-percenters running against (or auditioning to serve with) the 800-pound gorilla not in the room Donald Trump–and as the only guy in crutches, he’ll get more notice now than he otherwise would have. We’re not suggesting Gov. Burgum tore his Achilles heel on purpose, but anything to stand out on this stage of also-rans is probably a bonus.

Campaign managers often joke about wishing their candidates would avoid anything that might interfere with their rigorous schedule, to the point of locking them away when not on the trail and cutting up their food for them.

Add pick-up basketball games with the staff to the list we guess.