Wayne Allyn Root

Wayne Allyn Root (born July 20, 1961) is an American businessman, politician, television and radio personality, author, television producer, and political commentator. Root has stated that he is exploring a run as a Republican for U.S. Senate in Nevada in 2016.

Early life and education

Root was born in Mount Vernon, New York in 1961, the son of the late David and Stella Root. His father was a butcher from Bronxville, New York, who dabbled in third party politics as one of the original founders of the New York State Conservative Party.

Root (also commonly referred to by his childhood nickname "W.A.R.") graduated as Salutatorian from his elementary school (Kindergarten through 8th Grade), Thornton-Donovan School, then graduated from Columbia University in 1983 as a Political Science major. This would place him in the same graduating class as President Barack Obama. Root has stated that he has no recollection of having met or seen Obama at Columbia.

Career

Sports handicapper

Root's TV handicapping career began in New York City on WNBC radio (now WFAN) in the early 1980s. He moved onto NBC "Source Radio Network" syndicated around the country in over 100 markets as a sports talk host. He later became one of the youngest anchormen and national TV hosts in America from 1989 through the early 1990s on Financial News Network (FNN), now known as CNBC.