Wildrose Party Leader Danielle Smith was probably hoping her Alberta election campaign bus gaffe wouldn't get this much mileage.
But the unfortunate placement of a photo of her smiling mug above a pair of large bus wheels is now making the rounds on the U.S. talk show circuit. Jimmy Kimmel and Ellen DeGeneres have both poked fun at the bust bus. And on Monday night, the day Progressive Conservative Leader Alison Redford kicked off the election campaign, Jay Leno took aim on the Tonight Show.
Mr. Leno held up a picture of the original bus during his amusing Headlines segment.
"I would move the wheels down," he said to an appreciative audience, "It just looks bad."
The decals on the Wildrose bus were quickly replaced last week when the party became the butt of jokes after the official unveiling.
While campaigning on Tuesday in Okotoks, south of Calgary, Ms. Smith responded to questions about the continued U.S. mockery.
"Can I do one of these," said Ms. Smith as she placed her palm on her face, "Oy."
And, as she did when the mistake was first detected, Ms. Smith laughed it off.
"We did want attention on our bus," she said, "but it wasn't quite the attention I was anticipating. I'm glad everybody's been able to take it in good humour."