And you thought a Springer opera was bad.... look at this.

[David]

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Jerry Springer, the talk show host who put wife-swappers, strippers and skinheads on the air and then watched the punches fly, will file papers to run for the U.S. Senate as early as Friday, advisers said.

Springer, 59, the former Cincinnati mayor, will not decide whether to actually run until later this month, said Mike Ford, his political adviser.

The early filing is necessary to avoid getting into legal trouble for raising money without officially declaring a candidacy, Ford said.

Springer is airing 30-minute infomercials across the nation to raise money and build support for his possible run for the Democratic nomination next year.

The infomercial, paid for by Springer, is part biography and part fund-raiser. It explains how Springer's parents fled Nazi Germany for England, then moved to the United States just before Springer's fifth birthday. The ad seeks small donations and offers T-shirts, bumper stickers and CDs of Springer singing ``rockabilly'' music.

The infomercial will air for about two weeks in several U.S. cities including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Tenn., New Orleans, San Antonio and New York. Ford would not say how much it cost.

It was not immediately scheduled to air in Ohio because of concerns over equal access, meaning TV stations would have to offer equivalent time to other candidates.

The infomercial also addresses potential problems by Springer's talk show, known for its profanity, fistfights, cheating spouses and incestuous relationships.

Springer repeats a theme he has voiced several times in recent months - that his show is not responsible for problems in Ohio with schools, jobs and the economy.

The infomercial focuses on a comment by National Review commentator Jonah Goldberg on a Sunday morning talk show several months ago. Goldberg warned of new people brought to the polls by Springer, including ``slack-jawed yokels, hicks, weirdos, pervs and whatnots.''

The infomercial offers that quote on a T-shirt and inserted into a signed photograph of Springer next to a sign for Hicksville, Ohio. Springer refers to the quote and talks about wanting to reach out to ``regular folks ... who weren't born with a silver spoon in your mouth.''

State Sen. Eric Fingerhut, a Democrat, has already announced his candidacy for the Senate seat. The Democratic winner will probably take on Republican Sen. George Voinovich.

``A half-hour infomercial doesn't wipe out what he's been doing for a decade,'' Fingerhut said Thursday. ``All it does tragically is identify Ohio with his level of entertainment.''


07/12/03 10:00 EDT

[JetMaxx]

I wouldn't vote for Jerry Springer for dogcatcher, much less a U.S. Senator -- but sadly, some folks will....and probably a great many

PW

[grentz7721]

That news came up back in 1999 in my former viewing area, Cleveland,
Ohio about Jerry Springer running for senator. I think Jerry needs to end
his show in order to run for sentaor.

[Colin]

You might consider me quite weird, but I believe that he would be pretty good...if you ever watched the END of his show he speaks about how he wants everything to work out, etc, etc...he's not as bad as most of you think.

[coriolis]

He's better'n Hillary.

[Miss Mary]

Colin - that commentary was started right here in Cincinnati! He went from Mayor to evening news anchorman. At the end of each newscast, 11:29 p.m., he'd give this thoughts on a current story (national or local). End it with his "take care of eachother" or however he says it too. Then he used this commentary with his talk show. Which to be honest was actually a good talk show, in the beginning. Somewhere though, as Oprah took that high road (I know some find her annoying, but I highly applaud her morally, informative shows) and well, Jerry took the low road. The gutter road if you ask me.

[streetsoldier]

Wel, if Governor Jesse Ventura refereed wrestling matches during his tenure, why should Jerry Springer leave his show?

There is "precedent" at play here...

[coriolis]

Yeah, and we KNOW what William Jefferson Clinton did during his tenure.

Next stop for JSpringer: the white house. He could continue his show there: Get Leaders of warring nations together on his show, sit them down next to each other on the stage. Get some representatives of oppressed minorities on the stage too, let them insult each other a while and after a couple punches are thrown, get the bouncers in to break it up. The audience's appluse would determine who wins the war.

[Miss Mary]

Ed - good idea, LOL - know you're kidding, of course. Hey Jerry could also have an affair with a young intern too.....oh wait, old news.......the thought of Jerry Springer at the White House, with that smirk on his face. That smirk - directed at the idiots who grace his show - is so ridiculous. Yes, I've stumbled upon his farce of a show and watch for 60 seconds or more. Again, just ridiculous.

If I ever saw JS in town again, I know with 100% certainty, I'd go up to him and say - now look Mr. Springer, I once voted for you and you had my support, but since your "talk show" sunk to new levels, I just can't support you any more. You do not have my vote. Then I know he'd try to win me over. I'd probably listen but still I'd say no Jerry, you burned your bridge with this Ohio registered voter.

I did see him several times, in my bar days (mid 80s) drinking with buddies next to my group of friends. He'd look over and smile at us. So it could happen again. Just a few months ago, he went bar hopping in an area of Cincinnati, called Mt. Adams. At a few establishments I used to frequent. At one he went up on stage and jammed with the band! That made the local news, let me tell you. Lately, Jerry seems to be elsewhere in Ohio, not Cincinnati. Think he knows he has upset voters here! I'm one!

[Miss Mary]

Hey - just went to read my daily paper online, and low and behold there's an article about Jerry Springer! Seems the residents of Hicksville (yes there's a real village with that name) are ticked at Jerry Springer. Read all about it here:

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/0 ... ing14.html