PROVIDENCE – Late night television talk show host Conan O’Brien weighed in on Democratic presidential nominee hopeful Lincoln D. Chafee’s lowly poll ratings of 0 percent.
O’Brien, in a skit this week on his TBS show “Conan,” lampooned the former Rhode Island governor, saying he just wants to help him get to 1 percent.
“Right now no one is less than popular” than Chafee, he said.
“Let’s be honest, I’m not trying to get him elected. … In fact, I’m personally not going to vote for him,” O’Brien said, adding he just wants to help “so he’s not humiliated.”
“It seems like the nice thing to do,” O’Brien said.
With the help of musicians Aimee Mann and Ted Leo, they unveiled a campaign song, “Let’s Get Lincoln Chafee to 1 percent,” to the tune of Fine Young Cannibals’ “She Drives Me Crazy.” The song featured parts of Chafee’s platform, such as his desire to have the country adopt the metric system, and his past experience as a farrier.
“Used to be Republican, switched to Dem in 2010, pride of Rhode Island, his horse’s hooves were stylin’, wants the metric system for the U.S., a plan with zero gram’s chance of success,” they sang. “You don’t have to vote for him just get him to 1 percent.”
Chafee, through a spokeswoman, thanked Conan for the attention.
“He’s a good sport and I would definitely come on his show to help his ratings!” Chafee said.
In a Monmouth University poll released in July, Chafee registered no support.
It marked the second month in a row that Chafee had no support, as he also registered zero in June, according to Monmouth.
