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From Reuters Entertainment:

Talk Show Host Jerry Springer Skips Senate Run

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Reuters) - Picking his TV show featuring brawling transvestites over the rough and tumble of politics, talk show host Jerry Springer on Wednesday declared he would not make a run for the U.S. Senate from Ohio.

"As long as I'm doing that show ... my message, no matter how sincere and no matter how heartfelt, does not get through to the people I need to reach," Springer, 59, told reporters.

"The only way for a Democrat to win in Ohio is to be able to reach out to those two-and-a-half million Ohioans who right now don't relate to either political party, who think it's all a bunch of bull, who see government as not responsive to their needs," Springer said.

For months, the former TV anchorman, City Council member and mayor of Cincinnati, and 13-year ringleader of the syndicated daytime slugfest, has traversed Ohio in search of political support and alliances to take on Republican Sen. George Voinovich.

The London-born, New York-raised Springer hoped to exhort the same politically disaffected audience that catapulted former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura into the Minnesota governor's mansion five years ago.

Asked why he did not quit "The Jerry Springer Show" to provide the separation he said he needed to make the race, the multimillionaire Springer said his contract did not expire until May.

"I'm hired to do a show about dysfunctional relationships, and I defy you to watch my show and say it's not dysfunctional," he said.

"It has to be a political race and not (about) three transvestites and a midget on yesterday's show -- and it was a good show," he cracked.

Springer declined to say whether he would consider becoming a candidate in two years and, noting state poll numbers showing a majority of residents view him unfavorably, suggested a possible role for himself.

"If the Democrats think it would be helpful, I would endorse (President) Bush."
Squashing the hopes of transvestite dwarfs and cross-dressing baby-mommas everywhere...