Mark Molachino misquotes Mark Twain in Hinchinbrook campaign post

KAP candidate Mark Molachino has innocently misattributed a quote in the wiener-takes-it-all Hinchinbrook by-election.

Katter’s Australian Party Hinchinbrook By-Election candidate Mark Molachino at Lees Hotel in Ingham. Picture: Evan Morgan

KAP candidate Mark Molachino has innocently misattributed a quote in the wiener-takes-it-all Hinchinbrook by-election.

The arguable underdog and his adorable pet Dachshund Wally took to social media in a last-ditch push to drum up additional support for his election chances on Saturday.

“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog,” Mr Molachino wrote, inaccurately attributing the quote to Mark Twain, a renowned dog lover.

Unfortunately for Mr Molachino the quote’s earliest documented appearance is in 1911, a year after the American writer’s death.

It is in fact credited to columnist Arthur G. Lewis, a figure so shrouded in mystery that a well-meaning politician might be forgiven for getting its origins wrong.

Hinchinbrook By-Election candidate for Katter’s Australian Party Mark Molachino, pictured with his adorable pet Dachshund Wally has committed a harmless ‘howler’ on the campaign trail. Picture: Supplied

Mr Molachino, who in his defence quoted a genuine animal lover, said in his post that “you don’t need to be the biggest to make a real impact”, with his pint-sized companion reminding him of that daily.

“We’re up against big parties and big money, but we’ve got grit, policies, heart and a community worth fighting for,” he said.

“I’m here to stand up and get results for our region.”

Contacted about the error, Mr Molachino conceded the saying was often misquoted, “even by the great Bob Katter who I heard attribute it to Twain”.

“Perhaps in future we should just attribute it to Bob!?”

Originally published as Mark Molachino misquotes Mark Twain in Hinchinbrook campaign post