The Two Faces of Stormy?

LAS VEGAS, Nev.—Suffice to say, we are confused by Stormy Daniels’ apparent change of heart. Last week, the award-winning porn star told AVN she has no intention of reviving a run for the Louisiana Senate seat currently held by David Vitter, and this week, she purportedly issued a press release saying she’s still mulling a run and has become a Republican. We say purportedly, because as far as we can tell none of the media outlets running the story have actually spoken with Daniels about the authenticity of the press release.

And we only question its authenticity because Daniels also told AVN last week that she had not been informed about the public announcement she is supposed to make on April 15—the news of which was disseminated by her supposed Louisiana campaign rep Brian Welsh, who told the press she will  reveal her campaign plans on that date.

“I didn't have anything to do with that announcement,” she said at the time. "It was a surprise when I read it yesterday."

Whatever is going on, Daniels also was unequivocal last week when asked if she planned on resurrecting her stalled campaign.

“No,” she definitively told AVN, laying blame for the suspended campaign on her estranged husband, with whom she had a domestic dispute in July 2009 that a police report said involved a physical assault by Daniels that resulted in her arrest. No charges were ultimately filed in the case, but Daniels claimed that her husband ruined "any chance I had [to run] when he had me arrested...even though charges were never filed because he made the story up, [the] damage was done."

So what to make of the recent press release that strongly implies she is still considering a run? And why has almost every mainstream news outlet covering the story referred to Daniels as a former porn star when she is a current porn star who only recently wrapped a new movie, according to industry sources? And what is the real reason for the switch in party affiliation?

In the end, of course, the answers to these questions will be much ado about nothing, even if she decides to run and the story continues to garner ink, which may be the real intent here. It already appears as if the Daniels “stunt,” as it was recently referred to by Politico, is not only wearing thin for many but is also starting to irk the GOP, which is getting more than a little paranoid over the whole thing.

“It’s been clear for months, and evidence bears it out, that this is nothing but a shameless PR stunt engineered by Democrat Party operatives with connections to the Melancon campaign," said NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh. He added that U.S. Senate candidate "Charlie Melancon and his campaign operatives owe voters in Louisiana an apology, as do media outlets like The Associated Press who have given ink to this nonsense at a time when there are so many important issues facing the state of Louisiana and our country.”

Whether Walsh decided to climb out on that thin limb on his own or not, we don't know, but because we remain serious Stormy Daniels fans we will withhold judgment regarding her apparent flip-flop on running, and prefer to think of Daniels’ curious comments to us in the vein of a fledgling politician practicing for the many official flip-flops to come should she be elected to office. We certainly would not ask for more consistency from her than we would the average senator from the great state of Louisiana, or any other state, for that matter.

Neither Daniels nor Welsh has responded to recent queries.

The Stormy Daniels press release is reprinted below, in its entirety:

"After months of careful deliberation and consult as to the true nature of my political affiliation I am ready today to declare that should I seek the office of US Senator from the great state of Louisiana that I will do so as a Republican.

"While this decision has not been an easy one, recent events regarding Republican National Committee fundraising at Voyeur, an LA based lesbian bondage themed nightclub finally tipped the scales.

"As I have said for well over a year, it is time that our government and our tax policy begin rewarding entrepreneurship and creativity again. It is time again to inspire positive risks and out-of-the-box thinking in the interest of growing a strong economy and a strong America.

"For me, this spirit can be summed up in the RNC's investment of donor funds at Voyeur.

"As someone who has worked extensively in both the club and film side of the Adult Entertainment Industry, I know from experience that a mere $1900 outlay at a club with the reputation of Voyeur is a clear indication of a frugal investment with a keen eye toward maximum return.

"And I firmly believe that it is precisely this type of creative and calculated investing that we, as taxpaying Americans, should expect not only from our political parties but from our government. The American taxpayer deserves consistent conservatives who reject wasteful spending and unwarranted government intervention in the private sector.

"As is the case with so many of my fellow Louisianans, I have been a registered Democrat throughout my life. But now I cannot help but recognize that over time my libertarian values regarding both money and sex and the legal use of one for the other is now best espoused by the Republican Party."