Very few people who hold elected office got there by sending out campaign literature that smelled like garbage. But New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino is a different kind of politician. He's also a self-funder with a reported net worth near $150 million, which means the Tea Party favorite can do what he wants, including, it seems, distributing trash-scented fliers featuring pictures of scandal-plagued New York Democrats and the words "Something STINKS in Albany."

We're not completely sure "garbage" has a definite odor, but we certainly get the message. And don't hold on to it thinking the smell is going to get better. "[Paladino] says the smell will get worse the longer it is exposed, just like Albany," reported the AP. So look forward to that, New York mailmen.

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Ray Gustini