J. Mark Wrighton, assistant professor of political science at the University of New Hampshire, was another expert surprised that Jahncke’s bid was even possible.
“This is actually news to me that you could actually file for vice president,” he says. “This is going to be interesting.”
Jahncke has succeeded in flying beneath election officials’ radar as well.
“Usually the position of vice-president is to raise an issue, but I haven’t paid a lot of attention to it,” New Hampshire Deputy Secretary of State David Scanlon says.
The election system is designed to be participatory, according to Scanlon. The sole requirements were that candidates pay $1,000 and file before the Nov. 3 deadline.
The result, says Garrison Nelson, a professor of political science at the University of Vermont, is the potential for self-aggrandizement.
“Mr. Red Jahncke may have a nice time printing up lots of buttons and posters, but it sounds like more of an ego trip than anything else,” he says.
The End of the Road
Jahncke insists that his campaign is nothing more than a way to empower the voters of New Hampshire. “This is not about Red Jahncke. I’m not going to run a victory lap.”
Jahncke has never before dabbled in politics. He says his wife is supportive, but concerned that he this will be a springboard into other political adventures. But he promises that this bid is the end of the road.
“Normally when one ventures into politics there is a career objective, but not with me,” he says.
Alternately ignored and derided by critics, Jahncke says his campaign is an opportunity to tap into the activism he felt so strongly about as a student—to connect the activists of today at Harvard and beyond with their baby-boomer predecessors.
“Students through the generations complain about how to make a difference. With all humility I would nevertheless say that this is a chance to make a difference,” he says.
And besides, Jahncke adds, “There are four Elis in the race. It’s about time.”
—Staff writer Jonathan P. Abel can be reached at abel@fas.harvard.edu.