Candidate delivers speech to an audience of one

Now that the 2012 election is in the history books and Republican Don Volaric’s political career is probably over, I will share a story about possibly the strangest experience I have had in 27 years of covering political candidates.

Volaric, of course, is the GOP congressional candidate who lost to longtime Democratic Rep. Sandy Levin for a second consecutive election on Tuesday, except that this time it was a landslide loss. Though Volaric was running against a well-known congressman in a Democratic district, and despite the fact that he couldn’t raise one-tenth of the money needed to oust an entrenched incumbent, he remained supremely confident throughout the campaign.

About a week before the election I called Volaric seeking comments for one last congressional story I was working on. He said he preferred to chat face-to-face rather than over the phone, so I made arrangements to meet him at his Hall Road office.

When I arrived, the candidate led me into a small room in the back where he had created a silky blue background on the wall with a few conservative messages scattered around, similar to the backdrops for TV appearances by presidents and governors.

This tiny makeshift stage featured a large American flag on one side, and a Michigan flag on the other. The flags were fitted with wiring so they looked like they were flapping in the breeze.

In the center, the Chesterfield Township Republican had a podium in place with a Volaric for Congress placard on the front, where a presidential or state emblem would typically be displayed. In the middle of the room, no more than four feet from the podium was a single chair – for me.

At first, I thought the whole set-up was a gag. Until Volaric directed me to ask my first question. A supporter (the only other person in the room) got his video camera rolling.

Speaking from the podium, at times Volaric treated this bizarre event as a press conference. At other times he gestured with his hands and arms as if delivering a speech. A few times he read from notes or documents. And he used the opportunity to introduce his “Nine Point Plan” on fiscal issues.

Obviously, this strange tale will never amount to anything but fodder for the political story tellers.

But, for me, it was unforgettable.