gaining support by appealing to people's love of a sob story. This could include running for public office after a recent personal or family tragedy, or turning up to an X-Factor audition in a wheelchair, hoping that doing so will gloss over any discernible lack of talent.
Dave: "Here Bob, this man on the X-Factor lost all his family in a plane crash and had is legs amputated after a tragic gardening accident."

Bob: "He may be crap, but he will win on the sympathy vote."
by Lee 74 October 28, 2008
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