#NeverBrocato and the art of the political backfire

We weren't going to write about the write-in campaign for District 22 being done by political novice Brett Brocato because we didn't want to give justice to a guy who was being a tool, but after several lovefest stories from The Greenville News we felt compelled.

But not for the reasons Brocato probably wanted. However, let's backtrack a step or two. In June, challenger Jason Elliott unseated four-term incumbent Wendy Nanney in Statehouse 22 fairly easily. He took about 58 percent of the vote. Almost immediately afterward, The State Newspaper ran a story about Elliott being gay, which made his victory more surprising because a large part of District 22 is made up traditionally fundamentalist Bob Jones University.

There were some minor rumblings that Elliott should have disclosed this more in the primary. Smarter people brushed that idea off saying that voters did know and didn't care. Well, along comes Brocato, who says he is running because he believes Elliott should have somehow been more forthcoming. Because, you know, experience and plans don't mean anything, just sexuality. Well, Brocato somehow believed this platform was or is going to excite voters and get him elected as a write-in candidates.

Instead, it has been a huge backfire as every local story that has made its way online about his campaign has completely blasted him as a dolt, and led to a hashtag of #neverbrocato.

Anyway, we are not sure who convinced Brocato to pull this campaign, but it is going nowhere fast.

#neverbrocato #Jasonelliott #JasonElliottStateHouse22