By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer

Radio talk show host Joyce Riley has survived the first week and a half of campaigning for the Showtime reality TV series "American Candidate."

Riley, an Arkansas City native, was among eight candidates -- originally there were 12 -- who spoke at a media event in Allentown, Pa., the second tour stop for contestants in the race. The first stop was New Hampshire.

Candidates are eliminated one by one, until two finalists face off. The winner receives $200,000 and a national media appearance.

The Showtime cable network plans to air the series in August.

The eight surviving candidates arrived on Wednesday in Allentown on a single bus, The Express-Times, of New Jersey, reported on its website, www.nj.com. The event was hosted by Allentown Mayor Roy Afflebach and TV talk show host Montel Williams.

Each candidate briefly stated the leadership qualities he or she possesses, the Express-Times reported.

"Candidate Joyce Riley vonKleist, a 55-year-old Libertarian talk show host and former nurse, demanded the repeal of NAFTA and said, 'We have to bring jobs home,'" the paper reported.

The other "candidates" listed in the Express-Times article: Malia Lazu, a 27-year-old political organizer; Keith Boyton, a 38-year-old author, lecturer, political activist and Democrat; Lisa Witter, a 30-year-old public relations executive; Richard Mack, a 51-year-old consultant, former police officer and Libertarian; Park Gillespie, a 38-year-old teacher and Republican; James Strock, a 47-year-old businessman, author, and California's first secretary for environmental protection; and Bruce Friedrich, a 34-year-old Green Party candidate.

Riley, the daughter of Dave and Naoma Thompson of Ark City, called The Traveler on Tuesday afternoon from Allentown, after surviving a campaign test in New Hampshire.

Showtime is being tight-lipped about everything surrounding "American Candidate." The campaigners themselves are kept in the dark from day to day. They also must follow a regimented schedule.

"We don't even know where our next stop will be," Riley said via cell phone. "Rumors are that it will be in Virginia."

She added that candidates are limited to only a few hours on the phone each day. And they can't give out much information. For example, Riley said she couldn't say how many candidates remain in the contest.

"All we can say officially is that we're on the road," Riley said.

She added, however, that the show is a much bigger production than she expected. Candidates ride from place to place in a bus decorated in red, white and blue and with the words "American Candidate."

The candidates come from diverse backgrounds and focus on different issues, she said.

"I'm only one who represents constitutional issues," Riley said.

Riley, a Libertarian, is running on a platform of human rights, including no experimentation on individuals, freedom of health care choices and less intrusive government.

Riley, who now lives and works in Versailles, Mo., began her campaign on the evening of June 8 with a kick-off rally at the Agri-Business Building in Ark City.

One of the candidates was to be eliminated that evening, but at the end of the rally, Riley was informed that she had made the cut and could continue the campaign.

"I want to say, 'Thank you' to all my hometown supporters including Creekstone (Farms Premium Beef), Radio Shack and Country Mart," she said. "When I'm asked to say something to the people back home, my eyes tear up every time."