‘Captain Climate’ Puts Heat In Primary

In red cape and leotards, “Captain Climate” joined the thousands gathered in the snow and slush outside the television studio where a pair of presidential debates matched the top candidates for the Republican and Democratic nominations.

The Captain, complete with costumed sidekick Boy Atmosphere, has stalked candidates since Monday, trying to get them to explain what they would do about global warming. For someone seeking attention for a political issue, there was no choice Wednesday but to join the swirling, chanting masses outside the studio, to compete for a shot on local, national and even international television.

A few feet away, three Boston-area college students in saffron robes and bald wigs boogied to the Isley Brothers’ rendition of “Shout” while poking fun at Vice President Al Gore’s acceptance of money from members of a Buddhist monastery. Partisans for different candidates hoisted 10-foot poles festooned with campaign signs, and a man with a bullhorn proclaimed himself the head of “Billionaires for Bush and Trillionaires for Trump.”

Citizens for a Sound Economy, which wants to replace the income tax with a flat tax and ban any government regulation of the Internet, made hundreds of friends by handing out free headband ear warmers in the 20-degree weather.

“This is where the stage is. This is where the fight is,” said the Captain, who tells reporters he has time-traveled back from 2050 and a world nearly destroyed by global warming, to head off the future disaster. His time travel landed him at Dartmouth University on Monday, where he attended a rally for Republican John McCain. He shook McCain’s hand, but didn’t grill the candidate on global warming.

Still suffering the effects of time travel, he said when asked why he muffed his first big chance.

He’s reluctant to come out of character. But in reality - something that is admittedly in short supply in New Hampshire the week before the primary - the Captain is Matthew Stembridge of Spokane. He grew up on the North Side, where his parents still live, and graduated from Dartmouth last year. He plans to appear at as many campaign events as possible in the next week.

Why?

“Global warming is an important issue.”