Speaking of ill-chosen campaign graphics, Governor Larry Rhoden opens his reëlection campaign website with this underwhelming photo of himself:
Not only does Rhoden not resurrect his best feature, his manly mustache, but he also doffs his second-best feature, his signature West River cowboy hat. The two things that say most clearly who he is don’t get top billing. Instead, we just a pale face and less-than-crisp blue suit, white collar, and red tie. (Oh, but that Jesus tie-tack is a nice touch for the theocratic base!)
Rhoden’s hat does enter the second picture:
Yeah, there you go! White hat and big honkin’ belt buckle—there’s the cowboy chic we need to affirm our fondest self-imaginings, all of us rootin’-tootin’ Wild West heroes……