Jay Schroeder, Jay Schroeder's friends support Schroeder for Executive

With a suprising level of success, Jay Schroeder has managed to rally both himself and most of his friends behind his run for County Executive.

"This is unprecedented," said UW-Oshkosh political science chair Jim Simmons. "Rarely do we see a little-known candidate like (Schroeder) able to gather up nearly all of his friends to support a run for public office."

Although support and general

 knowledge of his campaign has not yet reached beyond his tightly-knit, right-wing conservative circle of buddies, Schroeder remains optimistic.

"I've talked to everyone I know Winnebago County, and after I rant a little about the proposed sales tax by my opponent, my friends are more than willing to agree with me," he said, referring to incumbent Mark Harris.

The Neenah resident and failed county supervisor candidate has been seen around Oshkosh shouting at people about the County Executive's scheduled pay raise, and more recently has been making stops at the UW-Oshkosh campus.

"(Schroeder) came to talk to our student group about iTunes or something," said junior Calvin Bowen. "I don't really remember, I just know it took like 45 minutes."

When not campaigning, Schroeder can be found creating fake blog personas on the Northwestern's Web site, most of them aimed at personally attacking Harris.

"Mark Harris always looks like he's really tired," he said of the incumbent, a generally nice guy who has declined to engage in referring to Schroeder negatively in any way. 

Harris is expected to get at least 80 percent of the vote April 7.