Sue Lowden is the leading candidate in the Nevada Republican primary to pick a challenger to Harry Reid. She was widely expected to win the primary, and go on to defeat Reid in November.

But that was before she began to spell out her views on how the American health care system can be improved. Ten days ago, she said she believes that the way to hold down medical costs is to move from the current system of paying doctors with cash, check or credit card to a barter system:

And I would have suggested, and I think that bartering is really good. Those doctors who you pay cash, you can barter, and that would get prices down in a hurry. And I would say go out, go ahead out and pay cash for whatever your medical needs are, and go ahead and barter with your doctor.

That statement elicited a certain amount of ridicule, and a certain amount of sheer disbelief (“she couldn’t have really meant barter, she probably meant bargain“). So this week Lowden clarified that she meant exactly what she had said:

I’m telling you that this works. You know, before we all started having health care, in the olden days our grandparents, they would bring a chicken to the doctor, they would say I’ll paint your house. I mean, that’s the old days of what people would do to get health care with your doctors. Doctors are very sympathetic people. I’m not backing down from that system.

It’s all very well for chicken farmers, but what’s a blogger to barter with?

Or a politician? I can see Lowden going to the doctor next week, and going: “How about you give me credit now, and once I’m elected, I’ll repeat on the Senate floor any five lies of your choice?”