Poster a Success, So Almodovar Will Reveal Still More in Political Drive

Sales are brisk for California’s first political pinup poster--so much so that two new posters revealing even more of the state’s Libertarian candidate for lieutenant governor are in the works.

A week after sales began earlier this month, more than 500 posters were sold of candidate Norma Jean Almodovar, who appears in the pinup dressed only in a skimpy red, white and blue boxing outfit.

“We’re really quite pleased,” said John Robertson, Almodovar’s campaign manager. “We’ve had inquiries about the poster from all over the world.”

Almodovar, a former civilian traffic officer turned call girl who is currently on probation, is running against incumbent Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy and challenger Mike Curb, a Republican, in November’s general election.

Message Behind Poster

The message behind the poster is that people should be allowed to reveal as much of their bodies as they desire without fear of regulation and/or retribution from the state.

“This body belongs to me,” Almodovar said. “What I do with it is my business and not the government’s.”

And just to make sure you get the point, Almodovar’s two upcoming posters feature her with considerably less clothing than her first. In one of the pinups she will appear nude, wrapped only in red tape.

The theme, Robertson said, is “cutting the red tape” of big government.

In her third pinup, the candidate again appears nude, although certain areas of her body will be covered by a giant stamp proclaiming them censored.

Autograph Is Extra

Each poster costs $20--or $100 if you want the pinup autographed, as a couple of dozen buyers have so far. All told, about 10,000 copies of each of the three posters will be available for sale.

Although her campaign manager is pleased with poster sales so far, he expects them to pick up considerably later in the campaign.

Although the posters may make Almodovar appear to be a less-than-serious contender in the lieutenant governor’s contest, Robertson said, it is hoped the novelty of the pinups will help the candidate pick up the publicity her campaign cannot afford to buy.

So far it has, at least in some respects. Late night TV talk show host Johnny Carson mentioned Almodovar’s pinup in one of his monologues, for instance, Robertson said.

“We sent him a poster right away,” he said.

Fund-Raising Factor

Organizers also hope the posters--which cost about $5 each to produce--will put up to $200,000 in the campaign’s lean coffers. They are optimistic that voters will be able to see past the novelty of the posters and take their candidate seriously.

“The titillation of the posters will draw people out, I think,” said Mark Hinkle, chairman of the California Libertarian Party. “But I hope they’ll stick around and listen to what she has to say.”

Robertson said organizers decided to try the pinup posters because “she’s a different kind of candidate and we needed a different kind of approach.”

Which is the main reason he doesn’t recommend pinup strategy for other candidates. “I think if Leo McCarthy or Mike Curb tried it, someone would have them up on environmental pollution charges.”