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By Tom Breen
Associated Press
POSTED: 01:08 p.m. EDT, Sep 25, 2008
CHARLESTON, W.VA.: Yes, West Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and he's running for president.
This jolly old elf, though, doesn't live at the North Pole but near Lake Tahoe, and was known as Thomas O'Connor until 2005, when his resemblance to Father Christmas helped persuade him to legally change his name.
Claus is one of 14 write-in presidential candidates registered with the West Virginia secretary of state's office, a veritable bumper crop thanks to the state's easy registration rules.
''All they have to do is file a form at least 42 days before the election,'' said Jason Williams, manager of the elections division in the secretary of state's office. ''Santa Claus filed his form and it was notarized, so he's registered along with everyone else.''
''Everyone else'' in West Virginia includes Keith Russell David, currently an inmate at Beaumont Federal Correctional Institution in Texas, and Pennsylvania resident Ron Hobbs, whose platform includes requiring all public businesses to have restrooms.
All told, there are 25 write-in candidates for statewide or congressional office in West Virginia this year. Their names won't appear on the official ballot, but votes for them will be tallied, while writing in an unregistered name will mean an uncounted vote.
''I don't think I've ever seen so many write-in candidates in a presidential election,'' said Kanawha County Circuit Clerk Vera McCormick, whose workers will count every write-in ballot on election night by hand.
That kind of joyous plurality isn't available to voters everywhere. Most states put a number of hurdles before write-in candidates, ranging from requiring dozens of forms to identifying presidential electors for the candidate.
CHARLESTON, W.VA.: Yes, West Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and he's running for president.
This jolly old elf, though, doesn't live at the North Pole but near Lake Tahoe, and was known as Thomas O'Connor until 2005, when his resemblance to Father Christmas helped persuade him to legally change his name.
Claus is one of 14 write-in presidential candidates registered with the West Virginia secretary of state's office, a veritable bumper crop thanks to the state's easy registration rules.
''All they have to do is file a form at least 42 days before the election,'' said Jason Williams, manager of the elections division in the secretary of state's office. ''Santa Claus filed his form and it was notarized, so he's registered along with everyone else.''
''Everyone else'' in West Virginia includes Keith Russell David, currently an inmate at Beaumont Federal Correctional Institution in Texas, and Pennsylvania resident Ron Hobbs, whose platform includes requiring all public businesses to have restrooms.
All told, there are 25 write-in candidates for statewide or congressional office in West Virginia this year. Their names won't appear on the official ballot, but votes for them will be tallied, while writing in an unregistered name will mean an uncounted vote.
''I don't think I've ever seen so many write-in candidates in a presidential election,'' said Kanawha County Circuit Clerk Vera McCormick, whose workers will count every write-in ballot on election night by hand.
That kind of joyous plurality isn't available to voters everywhere. Most states put a number of hurdles before write-in candidates, ranging from requiring dozens of forms to identifying presidential electors for the candidate.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 03:15 PM, 09/25/2008
You guys raised the price of the daily paper to 75 cents... for this tripe?
Posted 03:52 PM, 09/25/2008
I hear they had write-ins for "Messiah" too, but ACORN quickly filed those under votes for Obama...
Incline Village, NV
Posted 04:35 AM, 09/26/2008
My legal name is Santa Claus, and I'm a children's advocate and candidate for President of the United States. The primary reason I'm running is that Obama and McCain have refused for more than a year to address the plight of the 2 million children in the U.S. annually who are abused, neglected, exploited, abandoned, homeless, and institutionalized through no fault of their own. There are more than 50 million adults (voters) who, as children, suffered from the same political indifference these vulnerable children in dire circumstances do today. Enough is enough. Visit SantaClaus08 dot com if you're interested in learning more about this issue or about solutions for our economy, Iraq, etc. Blessings to All, Santa
Posted 05:19 AM, 10/14/2008
Greatings from Germany!
I`am writing to ask Santa Claus to visit us here in Germany at 28th and 29th to the international Santa Meeting! We akspect Santas from Russia, North Europ, England Italy and other Country . It would be a plasure to have you her in the north of Germany! Pleas wirite us under event@region-celle.de! We have about 25 international TV Stations here during this time!RegardsAlexander from Celle close to Hamburg/ Germany
