Traficant's cellblock strategy

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. is behind bars on corruption charges, but that predicament isn't stopping him from trying to run as an independent in Ohio's 17th Congressional District.

Traficant, a Democratic congressman for 17 years, was expelled by the House of Representatives in July and is serving an eight-year sentence in federal prison for bribery and racketeering.

Traficant's campaign manager, James Bunosky, joins "Crossfire" hosts Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala to outline the inmate's re-election strategy.

CARLSON: [I have] really sort of a two-part question: A) Shouldn't you get out of prison before you run for Congress? and B) Do you think even Democratic voters in Youngstown, forgiving as they obviously are, are going to vote for a man in a jumpsuit?

BUNOSKY: Thank you very much. Absolutely. I'll give you an example why. Back after the conviction we were able ... within a three-week time frame, we gathered more than 3,700 signatures when negativity was running at the very highest.

BEGALA: It seems the Feds, Mr. Bunosky, have your guy kind of behind the "eight ball," right? They won't even let him talk to the media. He can't campaign. He can't go door to door. [He] can't even wear his toupee, for God's sake.

How are you going to win?

BUNOSKY: They don't let Jim Traficant do anything. But the bottom line is -- he's got so much support in this area and across the country, there's no stopping this man.

He's a living legend in the Youngstown area, and he's becoming a national legend throughout America.

CARLSON: ... Is Mr. Traficant a legend to his wife, and what does his wife think of the idea of him running from behind bars?

BUNOSKY: Mrs. Traficant has always supported her husband in everything he does. He's been a great husband to her, great family man. He's a great family man to this entire 17th District, and he's a great family man to America.

BEGALA: Well, in addition to that, he's now, of course, living with a cellmate. Do you have the endorsement of the cellmate, Jim, because I think that's -- I used to be a campaign strategist -- this is the person who knows him best now. Is that going to happen? Do we get the endorsement of the cellmate?

BUNOSKY: ... Anybody that's ever had any dealings with Jim Traficant knows that he's a man of the people. If you have a problem, Jim Traficant will look into it. Jim Traficant will solve the problem, whether you live in the 17th Congressional District or whether you live anywhere else in the country if you don't get anywhere with your congressman.

BEGALA: ... By the way, let me ask a mechanical question. You've got about $30,000 -- I'm told from reports -- in campaign donations. Does that include the kickbacks that Traficant received, or are you not allowed to use that in the campaign?

BUNOSKY: Jim Traficant is getting money now from all over the country -- legitimate money. And Jim Traficant is going to run a campaign from behind bars. And he is going to be re-elected, and it's going to be a fantastic story for not only America but around the world.

CARLSON: Do you know Jim Traficant? Have you met him and are you getting a salary?

BUNOSKY: I am not getting a salary. I'm volunteering my time. Yes, I do know Jim Traficant. He's one of the finest individuals -- one of the finest humanitarians I have ever met in my life. That's why I'm doing this. I would never do it for anybody other than Jim Traficant.

CARLSON: Oh my God. Mr. Bunosky, we thought we loved Jim Traficant here on "Crossfire." We've met someone who likes him more, and that's you. Good luck in your campaign.

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