ources close to Gamecock Media Group have told Game Informer Online that company co-founder Mike Wilson plans to announce his candidacy for the Entertainment Software Association later today, running against incumbent Mike Gallagher. The source, who spoke to us on condition of anonymity, gave us an exclusive first look at a video in which Wilson reveals his intentions. Those close to the candidate have expressed their surprise at the news, saying the notoriously press-shy Wilson has built a career out of keeping a low profile and indulging the status quo.

"As I have traveled the country this primaries season promoting our upcoming presidential party game ‘Hail To The Chimp,’ often wearing a furry animal suit of one kind or another, I have come to realize that even those of us with an aversion to public attention must step forward in times
 of need,” wrote Wilson in a leaked press release. “I read last week that some of my most high profile supporters are not happy with the current administration of the ESA, and many of them apparently feel that I am the right man to right the ship, before it sinks entirely, due to my intimate experience with, or at least near, the E3 Expos in the past.

“After a long conversation with my wife, Melissa, who was the E3 funeral director in Santa Monica last year, we have decided to step forward and bear the slings and arrows of public life this election season.  Coincidentally, my campaign HQ will be housed at the lovely Hotel Figueroa this year, during the days of July 15-18. All contributions, particularly in the form of pre-orders of Hail To The Chimp or any of the other fine Gamecock games headed your way this year, will be gladly accepted.

“God Bless America. We're Just Sayin."

The state of the ESA has been the subject of recent news, with reports that several high-profile members, including Activision and Vivendi Games, have pulled their membership. How this, and Wilson's candidacy, will affect the organization’s E3 event remains to be seen.