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. (That, and the fact that O’Connor found he was much more popular and money was easier to come by with the name Santa Claus).
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.”
This breaking news is just the latest publicity stunt for O’Connor. He uses his legally changed name annually to draw attention to himself and to make money. He has several websites using the name and image of Santa Claus — the real one, mind you — hawking everything from diet plans to books.
No one has ever seen him in a flying sleigh though.
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