Rep. Joe Walsh trades in horse trailer for motor home

By Judy Kurtz - 04/16/12 07:20 PM ET

Rep. Joe Walsh is moving on up when it comes to how he rolls on the campaign trail.

The Illinois Republican’s reelection campaign is the proud owner of a 1984 Fleetwood Pace Arrow motor home.

The $7,500 moving digs seem like an upgrade from the previous staple of his 2010 run for Congress: a horse trailer.

We hear that although the motor home — which has about 100,000 miles on it — comes complete with a small kitchen, sink, fridge and closets, Walsh doesn’t plan on sleeping inside his newly acquired set of wheels. Perhaps one reason why? The RV has a shower and restroom, but neither is functional.

The congressman, who faces off against Democrat Tammy Duckworth in the state’s redrawn district in November, told ITK in an email, “This motor home is just going to enhance my ability to get out in front of and talk to as many people in the 8th district as I can.”

But Walsh doesn’t plan on keeping what his staff has dubbed his “mobile campaign headquarters” pristine. The Tea Party favorite collected thousands of signatures on his old horse trailer. His campaign says it’s hoping at least 10,000 supporters slap their John Hancocks on the motor home.