Hulk Hogan: No word yet if "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase approves of the latest Fed rate cut. Credit: Courtesy of Department of Defense

Remember when the highest profile endorsement Barack Obama could get was YouTube faux sensation Obama Girl? This week he got a big gun, or pair of guns, or more technically pair of pythons, with Hulk Hogan formally coming out for the Illinois Senator.

Wrestling has had its political run-ins, like the Senate steroid hearings of the 1980s. But it also has a degree of political clout (ask WWE Hall of Famer and former governor of Minnesota Jesse “The Body” Ventura) and there’s a sizable demographic that cares a lot more about what Ric “The Nature Boy” Flair has to say about the presidential race than Oprah’s opinion (he’s gone for Mike Huckabee.) Meanwhile, Ron Paul has managed to get WWE superstars Kane and Val Venis (who has previously been a fairly loyal libertarian, but that’s true for a lot of Paul supporters.)

This article appears in January 25 • 2008.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.