Jackie Cooper is wonderful. Rarely have I liked a cold blooded villain more. A man who can act with his face. From cringing at his campaign manager's bravado, to his look of total satisfaction when he removes this thorn from his side once and for all, to the moment when he all but faints when Columbo says "Your under arrest sir", a fine acting job.
Yup, true. I hope to find some of his little rascal films one day.
re:Candidate For Crime; It's one of my favorites, Jackie Cooper is right up there with my favorite Villians, Jack Cassidy and Robert Culp. I would have loved to see him in more episodes. It's also one the strongest scripts, very well done episode all around.