There have been spaghetti suppers and cookouts, nearly nonstop television commercials and political lawn signs that appeared with the dandelions rather than the falling leaves.

What's next in Republican Rich Tarrant's blitz to get Vermonters' attention for his campaign to upset Independent Bernie Sanders' plan to move from the U.S House to the U.S. Senate? (which assumes that Tarrant defeats fellow Republican Greg Parke in the Sept. 12 primary)

A guy in a chicken costume.

"In a fun way, we want to make sure Congressman Sanders is accoutable for his record," said Tim Lennon, Tarrant's campaign manager. The chicken, named "Bernie," will begin making appearances around the state -- independent of Tarrant.

So what' the significance of the chicken? It has nothing to do with confusing Congressman Sanders with Colonel Sanders of fried chicken fame, although they do have that white hair in common. Rather, Lennon said, the chicken image is supposed to suggest that Sanders is "chicken" to talk about his record in Congress.

The Sanders campaign said the chicken stunt sounded a lot like the Republican National Party's "Flipper," a guy dressed in a dolphin suit who would show up at the 2004 campaign events of Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry.

"Richard Tarrant is trying to masquerade as an independent," said Paul Hortenstine, Sanders' campaign spokesman, "but it is like they are following the tactics of the National Republican party."

--Nancy Remsen