BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Republican Kelly Armstrong is hitting every parade and chamber of commerce meeting he can find to bring attention to his North Dakota congressional campaign. He’s about to take it up a notch - a big one - by jumping out of an airplane before a crowd of thousands at the Fargo AirSho.
“I absolutely like doing things like that and it’s an awesome way to support our military and one of the cooler things to do on a campaign,” he said. “That said, my wife did ask me if my life insurance was paid up.”
Gov. Doug Burgum and Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney will also make tandem leaps this weekend with the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team, becoming the latest politicians to try extreme stunts to draw attention to a cause - or to themselves.
After Burgum’s skydive Saturday, he’ll deliver opening remarks to air show attendees at Hector International Airport. While Burgum says his intent is to highlight the “professionalism and skill of the armed services,” the first-term governor is not known for passing up a media-friendly event. Last year he stood atop the state’s 21-story Capitol for a video with a member of the Harlem Globetrotters trying to sink shots 242 feet below.
“I’m actually quite excited about it,” Burgum said of the parachute jump. “I have complete confidence in the team. I’m going with a guy who has 20,000 jumps.”
Burgum said he has parachuted solo when he was a student at North Dakota State University.
Politicians elsewhere have done similar stunts. Last year, Kentucky Republican Gov. Matt Bevin delivered the green flag for a NASCAR race at Kentucky Speedway by rappelling from a Blackhawk helicopter.
But no modern politician likely has taken it as far as former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, a former Navy Seal who once rappelled into a bull-riding event and entered a burning building with firefighters.
Mahoney, a Democrat, said he was somewhat reluctant to skydive when he was invited by the Navy. On Friday, Mahoney, who is also a doctor, was focusing on his job to calm nerves about his jump later in the day.
“I’m doing surgery this morning so I’m distracted,” Mahoney said.
But his work has also made him more conscious of the risks: “I’ve seen just about everything, including the bad things that happen when people fall from high places.”
Mahoney said he has tried to keep the jump a secret from his wife, Kathy. But his 15-year-old son, Dylan, wants to skydive with the Navy team, too.
“They told me only politicians could do it,” Mahoney said. “What’s that tell you?”
Mahoney is not new to doing stunts as a politician. Last year, he rappelled down a six-story building in Fargo to raise money for charity.
The same event is scheduled again next month and Burgum said he’d like to join Mahoney.
Mahoney’s advice to the governor or anyone else contemplating a similar feat?
“Do not look down,” he said.
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