[View the story "Bodybuilder vies for Jordanian parliament" on Storify ]Bodybuilder vies for Jordanian parliament Is Sheble Haddad an inspirational or outlandish candidate? Storified by The Stream · Tue, Jan 22 2013 10:30:45
Below, Haddad shares his platform on his Facebook page, which includes free college education in Jordan, oil extraction from the Dead Sea, a crack-down on corruption in the country, and the liberation of Palestine.
Cover Photos | FacebookFacebook
The most popular pictures from Haddad's page portray the candidate as a normal person. The caption below reads: "I'm not looking for the spotlight, witness where I was before a live television interview".
انا لست باحثا عن الاضواء .شاهدو اين كنت قبل ...Facebook
"In an olive oil mill (before a live television interview)".
في معصره زيتون ( قبل اللقاء التلفزيوني مباشره)Facebook
"With Harley Davidson motorcyclists".
مع تبعون الدراجات (هارل ديفيستون )Facebook
Haddad has also used the Facebook page to give a unique twist on his platform. The photo below reads "eat lettuce until you sleep and don't eat dirty money" in a message against corruption.
كول خس لحد ما تنام... ولا تاكل فلس حرام!!Facebook
Below, Haddad calls for Jordanians to "support sports and youth goals".
دعم الرياضه والشباب هدفيFacebook
The photo below, with over 1,200 likes, asks Haddad's audience in Jordan to "eliminate the culture of shame".
القضاء على ثقافه العيبFacebook
In one of his most popular ventures, the candidate created a theme song for his supporters. The video below (in Arabic) encourages Jordanians to go out and vote on Wednesday.
شبلي حداد وسام سلطان - صوتك أمانهREETAPROTUBE
Despite Haddad's online popularity, the spectacle of his campaign may draw more attention than his platform. The candidate's calls to hunt down corruption in Jordan, paired with his unorthodox behaviour, have led some to draw parallels with the antics of the late Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi.
Below, Oula Farwati adds the words "every alley, every house" - a viral excerpt from one of Gaddafi's speeches in 2011 - to a news release about Haddad's anti-corruption efforts.
زنجا زنجا دار دار RT “@AmmonNewsAr: جديد | شبلي حداد : ساطارد الفاسدين "شارعا شارعا"→ http://bit.ly/WqWtW8”Oula Farawati
Twitter user Mohammad Salah calls Haddad "the clown of [the Jordanian] elections".
@bataleh باختصار #شبلي_حداد اراجوز الانتخاباتMohammad Shalash
What do you think? Is Haddad's platform inspirational or outlandish? And will his use of social media help him in Wednesday's elections? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
