My crash and burn over drugs and alcohol is very well known; I've never, ever hidden that story. If there are people who would not vote for me because of that history, I understand.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
When I first ran for governor, the political class and party leaders opposed me with great vigor, and some even said if I won the primary they would never vote for me. But the voters had other ideas, and they are the only ones who count.
I'm constantly meeting people who said that they cast their first vote for me, or that they cut their eye teeth on the 1972 campaign, or that they didn't vote for me but admire my positions.
I may have been the only candidate in America who failed to ride the wave of anti-establishment anger to victory.
I had incorrectly, for all of my adult life until 2008, believed the biggest voting myth that exists - that ex-felons cannot vote.
I've always tried to vote my conscience.
I never vote for anyone. I always vote against.
Maybe some people thought I was 'safe' so they didn't really bothered to vote for me at all.
I vote in every general election, but I'm not a party member or an ideologue. I've never told anyone who I've voted for.
I would never say somebody had to vote for anybody. That would be terrible. I haven't said that.
I knew that I could vote and that that wasn't a privilege; it was my right. Every time I tried I was shot, killed or jailed, beaten or economically deprived.