Yesterday, the Daily News reported that half of the “regular New Yorkers” in Anthony Weiner’s latest ad are former interns, and now the Post is trying to top that with the revelation that Weiner’s campaign hired entire crowds of “supporters,” who have no personal or professional allegiance to Señor Danger. A source tells the paper that just after Weinergate 2.0 broke, the campaign went to the California firm Crowds on Demand, which hired actors to appear at events like the Dominican Day Parade at a rate of $15 per hour.
Rather than just holding signs proclaiming their love for Weiner, the fake supporters got a chance to practice their craft. They were asked to act “like either supporters or people who met him and became supporters as a result of that encounter,” said the source. “The people would initially be skeptical and then they ask him various questions but would appear then to be convinced by his spiel.” A request to have the actors confront hecklers was denied by the firm for liability reasons.
Weiner campaign spokeswoman Barbara Morgan denied the allegations. “We’ve never heard of this company and certainly never used them.” she said. “We are proud we’ve always had the biggest and most fired-up crowds. That’s enthusiasm the other campaigns just can’t buy.” Uh … not that she knows anything about the going rate on enthusiastic crowds.
