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| Meet Santa Claus, the presidential candidate running on children's rights | Meet Santa Claus, the presidential candidate running on children's rights |
| (5 months later) | |
| In the mess that is the current US political climate, the best person to lead Americans through the dense fog of a tanking economy and complicated foreign policy might be a man whose most famous companion led him, one stormy Christmas Eve, through the fog with a bright red nose. | In the mess that is the current US political climate, the best person to lead Americans through the dense fog of a tanking economy and complicated foreign policy might be a man whose most famous companion led him, one stormy Christmas Eve, through the fog with a bright red nose. |
| Nevada resident Santa Claus is running for president and he announced Wednesday that singer Tracy Chapman – not Rudolph – would be his choice for running mate. | Nevada resident Santa Claus is running for president and he announced Wednesday that singer Tracy Chapman – not Rudolph – would be his choice for running mate. |
| "I haven't heard either of the big boys talk about anything with respect to children, so I'd like to use that as a platform to insinuate my views on children, their health, safety and welfare and that's what I meant by restoring America's heart and soul," Claus told the Guardian. "We have presidents and candidates and all these other politicians that are really into the whole war machine, some other things that aren't particularly good for children in my view and I would like to see voters consider changing that." | "I haven't heard either of the big boys talk about anything with respect to children, so I'd like to use that as a platform to insinuate my views on children, their health, safety and welfare and that's what I meant by restoring America's heart and soul," Claus told the Guardian. "We have presidents and candidates and all these other politicians that are really into the whole war machine, some other things that aren't particularly good for children in my view and I would like to see voters consider changing that." |
| Voters in 15 states can write in Santa Claus as their nominee for president on the November ballot. This includes key swing states like Iowa and New Hampshire, which means in a best case scenario he could get 108 electoral votes and have an actual influence on the election. | Voters in 15 states can write in Santa Claus as their nominee for president on the November ballot. This includes key swing states like Iowa and New Hampshire, which means in a best case scenario he could get 108 electoral votes and have an actual influence on the election. |
| If elected, the first thing he would do in office is work towards the main cause he advocates for, children. "I think I would probably streamline the fostering and adoption system, it only takes 10 minutes to do it and it doesn't cost any more than we're already spending on those systems," Claus said. | If elected, the first thing he would do in office is work towards the main cause he advocates for, children. "I think I would probably streamline the fostering and adoption system, it only takes 10 minutes to do it and it doesn't cost any more than we're already spending on those systems," Claus said. |
| Claus is an advocate for vulnerable children full-time and decided in 2008 he would like to see a change in how politicians address issues that affect children and would lead that change himself by running for president. | Claus is an advocate for vulnerable children full-time and decided in 2008 he would like to see a change in how politicians address issues that affect children and would lead that change himself by running for president. |
| "I have a heart for children and their future and I think they are being left behind in a big way. I'd like to see that change," Claus said. | "I have a heart for children and their future and I think they are being left behind in a big way. I'd like to see that change," Claus said. |
| From 2005 through 2007, he visited every governor's office in the country on Santa's Bless the Children Tour to speak with them about issues affecting children. He specifically mentioned the desire to consolidate the fostering and adoption files in different states and to streamline the record-keeping process. | From 2005 through 2007, he visited every governor's office in the country on Santa's Bless the Children Tour to speak with them about issues affecting children. He specifically mentioned the desire to consolidate the fostering and adoption files in different states and to streamline the record-keeping process. |
| The politician's staff were receptive to his talking points, except for the office of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who did not like the Santa shtick. | The politician's staff were receptive to his talking points, except for the office of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who did not like the Santa shtick. |
| This is his second time running for president and he increased his focus on social media this election cycle, a move that has kept his campaigning costs under $200. | This is his second time running for president and he increased his focus on social media this election cycle, a move that has kept his campaigning costs under $200. |
| Before becoming Santa Claus, he was as a communications consultant for the New York police department where he set up the first video unit for a law enforcement branch in the US. | Before becoming Santa Claus, he was as a communications consultant for the New York police department where he set up the first video unit for a law enforcement branch in the US. |
| He now resides in the appropriately alpine Lake Tahoe. It was there that he decided to change his name to Santa Claus while walking to the post office. Claus is a monk and bishop and was praying to figure out how he could use his bearded Santa-like appearance to help children. He said he asked God if he should change his name and about 10 seconds later, a man yelled from a car: "Santa, I love you." | He now resides in the appropriately alpine Lake Tahoe. It was there that he decided to change his name to Santa Claus while walking to the post office. Claus is a monk and bishop and was praying to figure out how he could use his bearded Santa-like appearance to help children. He said he asked God if he should change his name and about 10 seconds later, a man yelled from a car: "Santa, I love you." |
| The next week, the man formerly known as Thomas O'Connor applied for a name change and he was Santa Claus less than a month later. Claus estimates he is one of a half dozen people with that name, though he couldn't get a straight answer from the social security administration to confirm. | The next week, the man formerly known as Thomas O'Connor applied for a name change and he was Santa Claus less than a month later. Claus estimates he is one of a half dozen people with that name, though he couldn't get a straight answer from the social security administration to confirm. |
| He also has a screen actors guild membership, which means he is the only person who can officially endorse products as Santa Claus. | He also has a screen actors guild membership, which means he is the only person who can officially endorse products as Santa Claus. |
| His chances of getting elected president are considerably low, even in the states where people might write in Santa Claus because they don't like other candidates without realizing an actual candidate has that name. | His chances of getting elected president are considerably low, even in the states where people might write in Santa Claus because they don't like other candidates without realizing an actual candidate has that name. |
| "As it happens, states that do permit the write-in candidates and recognize us don't count the ballots for us," Claus said. "Unless we actually had a shot to win that particular state, they are not gonna bother with it – which I understand – but I don't appreciate it." | "As it happens, states that do permit the write-in candidates and recognize us don't count the ballots for us," Claus said. "Unless we actually had a shot to win that particular state, they are not gonna bother with it – which I understand – but I don't appreciate it." |
| And with the holiday season approaching, Claus has one last message for the electorate and non-voters alike: "From Santa, the greatest gift you can give is love, not presents." | And with the holiday season approaching, Claus has one last message for the electorate and non-voters alike: "From Santa, the greatest gift you can give is love, not presents." |
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