Candidates NOT to Elect in 2010

Here are 12 of the absolutely least deserving candidates for high office.

Since 2005, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), has compiled a list of the dirtiest, most corrupt critters to scurry across the halls of Congress. The annual report shines some light on the double-dealing and back-scratching of some shady characters, and its release generally gets good play among political reporters.

But 2010 is the year of the upstart, insurgent candidacies — with dozens of “outsiders” on the scene dedicated to “cleaning up Washington,” “taking our country back,” etc. It’s the year of the Tea Parties, and no incumbent is safe. So it’s entirely appropriate that CREW should release a new list this year, one that looks not at the worst sitting members of Congress but at the dirtiest candidates — the people most likely to rank among the most corrupt in Congress if they go on to win their elections.

• Roy Blunt (R) U.S. Senate, MO
• Charlie Crist (I) U.S. Senate, FL
• Jeff Denham (R) U.S. House, CA
• Alvin Greene (D) U.S. Senate, SC
• Timothy Griffin (R) U.S. House, AR
• Ed Martin (R) U.S. House, MO
• Kendrick Meek (D) U.S. Senate, FL
• Christine O'Donnell (R) U.S. Senate, DE
• Dino Rossi (R) U.S. Senate, WA
• Marco Rubio (R) U.S. Senate, FL
• James Traficant (I) U.S. House, OH
• Allen West (R) U.S. House, FL

CREW recognizes that with 2,300 people running for federal office this year, our list is by no means complete. In fact, we may not even have found the worst! Now we need your help: which truly terrible candidates did we miss?

Submit your nominees to CREW and we’ll see if they rank among 2010’s most crooked candidates.

Corrupt politicians can be found in all political parties. But the above list of 12, breaks down in favor of the Republicans in terms of dirtiest politicians - 8 Republicans, 2 Democrats & 2 Independents.

Here's a politician who will fit into the category of extreme and unusual candidates.

Rich Iott, the Tea Party-supported GOP nominee for Congress in Ohio's 9th District, is part of a group that likes to don German Waffen SS uniforms and participate Nazi re-enactments.

Think before you VOTE!!!