While the rest of the world—from the media to the business community—is busy cultivating niche appeal, the hierarchy of national politics remains a fixture of Society 1.0.

Not only have the powers that be retained the two-party system, most of us—the people who supposedly make up this new world of niches—only pay attention to the top tier of Democrats and Republicans running for president. After all, politics is about winning, and if it’s not Hillary or Barack or Rudy or Mitt, why waste the time and effort?

Well, for one thing, non-shots can be very colorful characters. A zero percent chance of winning can really boost your entertainment value as long as you don’t take yourself too seriously. (Actually, non-shot candidates who take themselves too seriously can be a lot of fun, too.)

The Federal Elections Commission reported that, as of Monday, more than 150 candidates have officially filed paperwork; dozens more are campaigning on a more informal level. Here’s a sampling of very long-shot candidates, from liberal to conservative to crustacean.
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Dal LaMagna
Party: Democratic
Web site: http://www.lamagnaforpresident.com
LaMagna earned millions of dollars after founding Tweezerman, a brand of bathroom and grooming tools, in 1980. He parlayed that money into unsuccessful runs for Congress while also founding The Progressive Government Institute, a left-leaning think tank.
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John Cox
Party: Republican
Web site: http://www.cox2008.com
You might know this name. It’s always the last one mentioned when listing all the Republican candidates. Cox made news for not being allowed to make news earlier this year when he was snubbed my his own party at a South Carolina GOP debate.
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Robert Haines
Party: Republican
Web site: http://www.slate.com/id/2168319/nav/tap2
Well, that’s not his official Web site, but it’s a thorough rundown of this evergreen conservative candidate and ex-con. Haines’ resume includes presidential campaigns in 1992, 1996 and 2004, wrestling a gunman to the ground in front of the White House in 1994, and getting arrested for pulling a rifle on a man while wearing a bulletproof vest in 1995.
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Lobsterman
Party: Crustacean
Web site: http://www.lobstermancosta.com
Jeff Costa, a retired pro-wrestler from New Hampshire, first ran for president in 2000. He’s back running as a write-in candidate in a lobster suit, and promised voters in June that if he wins in November ‘08, everyone who voted for Lobsterman gets a free lobster dinner on him.
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Jared Ball
Party: Green
Web site: http://www.voxunion.com/jaredball
It’s not often you see a presidential candidate actively embracing hip-hop. Ball is working with D.C. rapper/artist Head-Roc to promote Green Party concert tours and pique political interest within the hip-hop community. Ball’s challenge: to promote social and political issues without succumbing to the sanctimony of most ‘‘serious’’ hip-hop.
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Christine Smith
Party: Libertarian
Web site: http://www.christinesmithforpresident.com
Smith is one of just a few female fringe candidates, but that’s not why we’re including her. She’s also the author of a book called ‘‘A Mountain In The Wind—An Exploration of the Spirituality of John Denver.’’ But don’t read too much into her love for wussy folk. She notes on her Web site that she ‘‘enjoys target practice with her 40-caliber semiautomatic handgun.’‘

asap reporter Otis Hart has never worn a lobster suit, but he’s gotten some nasty sunburns.

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