Kicker: A dime’s worth of difference

NICK EICHER, HOST: Those on the far right of the political spectrum and the far left have made the same claim: there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between Republicans and Democrats.

Well, pity the voter in California’s congressional district 36, who glances at a ballot, sees the candidates’ names and remembers that old political saying.

RUIZ: I believe I represent every person in the district, no matter what your party.

Interesting choice of words. That is Congressman Raul Ruiz. He’s a Democrat and he’s running for re-election. His opponent is a Republican named—wait for it—Raul Ruiz.

Seems that if you were to flip that proverbial dime, Raul Ruiz comes both up heads and tails. 

The congressman’s campaign says it will have to work overtime to educate voters so they don’t inadvertently vote for his opponent.

Because here the dime’s worth of difference is that political-party designation.

You might think this is unprecedented. It’s not.

Just last year Kansas Congressman Ron Estes faced another Ron Estes in the GOP primary. You know who won? Ron Estes.

It’s The World and Everything in It.

(Photo/YouTube screenshot)

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