Charisma, Calluses & Cash

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$15 Non-Tickets. So local politics still involve the old-fashioned combination of shoe leather and vote-catching gimmicks. One Chicago hopeful tours bowling alleys distributing plastic earrings bearing his name to the ladies. In California, a congressional candidate has his volunteer aides play a short tape recording of his pitch from door to door. To raise funds, Connecticut Republicans are auctioning baseballs autographed by Babe Ruth. Wisconsin Republicans sell cookbooks at $2.50 each. A California Congressman gave away a $5,000 Cadillac as a door prize to attract potential contributors. Most thoughtful of all was the Michigan candidate who netted $2,000 by selling $15 non-tickets for the privilege of not attending a campaign cocktail party he promised not to give.