Not so zany, if you want to win. I said something about "a hell of a senior class" on my way to one high school class presidency, during our one allowed assembly speech. The school administration was floored and could not get me off the podium fast enough while all my classmates cheered and stomped their feet. I credit my sister for telling me I had to separate myself from the school suits, and she was and remains a bleeding heart liberal.

Good campaign strategy is not to be discounted. It may have been born elsewhere but it has been raised to an art form in the South.