You know the Republican candidate has to be bad when the GOP mails out fliers that endorse the Democratic candidate.
This one just makes me smile.
Democrat Susan Parker is hoping for every vote she can get in her race for the state Public Service Commission, but she never expected the Shelby County Republican Party to endorse her.
In fliers mailed out to 45,000 voters across the county this week, the Shelby GOP indicated its support for Parker for the PSC's Place 2 seat.
Party officials said Thursday it was all a big mistake.
Shelby County GOP Secretary Fred Ard said the mailer-distributor, as well as several party officials, proofed the mailing and failed to notice that it highlighted Parker's name in the race instead of her Republican opponent, Perry O. Hooper Jr.
"We wholeheartedly and emphatically endorse all of our Republican candidates with no exceptions," Ard said Thursday.
Once the mistake was discovered, the party went into overdrive.
State Republican Party Chairwoman Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh held a news conference on the steps of the state Capitol Thursday to affirm the party's support for Hooper.
And by Thursday afternoon, Shelby County households were receiving recorded messages from county Republican Chairman Matt Fridy urging them to vote for his "good friend" Hooper.
Bob Gambacurta, a spokesman for Hooper's campaign, said Hooper appreciated the prompt response.
"It was a mistake, a human error," Gambacurta said. "These things happen."
He also noted that Parker "has not attempted to use this against us."
The idea of a Democrat getting the Republican Party's support in the state's most staunchly Republican county gave Parker a chuckle.
"I am flattered to be marked on any ballot," she said, "and I hope to do very well in Shelby County."