Dark Horse GOP Presidential Candidate Hits the Airwaves in Iowa

Veteran Republican political operative Fred Karger took a large step to announcing a presidential campaign on Tuesday, unveiling a television commercial and hiring staff in Iowa for a possible longshot bid at the White House. If he runs, Karger will be the first openly gay candidate for a major partys nomination in American history.

A political operative who served as an adviser to presidential candidates John Connally, Bob Dole and Paul Laxalt, Karger also worked with the presidential campaigns of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

A longtime executive with the Dolphin Group, a well-established public relations and political strategy group based in California, Karger has focused on same-sex issues in recent years, leading Californians Against Hate and fighting against Proposition 8, a measure that recognized only traditional marriages as legal. While Proposition 8 passed in November 2008, a federal judge struck it down, ruling it unconstitutional. Karger has also taken aim at opponents of same-sex marriage, including launching boycotts and investigations against the Mormons and the National Organization for Marriage.

Karger launched a new commercial which will be running this week in Iowa. Besides introducing himself to voters, Karger attempts to brand himself as an independent Republican and refers to Reagan as his mentor.