Republicans Have a New Candidate – Rent is Too Damn High Guy

Jimmy McMillan, candidate for Rent is 2 Damn High party makes a point during the 2010 New York State Gubernatorial debate held at Hoftstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

His one-issue message went viral, making him an instant celebrity. Now, the former gubernatorial candidate from the "Rent Is Too Damn High Party" is running for president - as a Republican.

Jimmy McMillan made headlines last October when a televised debate for governor of New York introduced New Yorkers -- and the country -- to his simple, recurring message - "The Rent is Too Damn High."

The debate had hundreds of thousands of hits on YouTube within days and sparked a song, t-shirts, buttons, DVDs and a spoof on "Saturday Night Live". His newfound fame didn't win him the election, but that hasn't stopped the Vietnam veteran from Brooklyn, New York.

In February, he filed papers with the Federal Election Commission to run as a Republican in the 2012 Presidential race. And he's broadened his message.

"Rent is too damn high is my slogan. Gasoline is too damn high is my slogan and the deficit is too damn high," McMillan told Fox News. "And last but not least, everything is too damn high and that is my entire slogan to help get this country on the right track."

McMillan says the country has been "punked" by the Democratic Party and wants Congress and the President to take working people seriously.

"The world is in turmoil," McMillan says. "What is happening in the Arab world is happening here, corrupt government, and I'm here to change that and I'm not playin'. I hope everybody takes me serious. This is not a joke. This is not Saturday Night Live."

McMillan is still looking for a First Lady. His website claims McMillan "has been single for more than 30 years and is looking for a date."