Despite a longstanding history of two major political parties, America has seen its share of notable third party candidates in presidential elections.
John Breckenridge, Ross Perot, Ralph Nader, even former President Theodore Roosevelt made significant hey in their respective races as third party candidates. And as we move deeper into the 21st century, a new face has emerged to challenge the status quo and perhaps cement their own legacy as a maverick of these political times.
Deez Nuts.
In a series of hypothetical presidential match-ups, a Public Policy Polling survey in North Carolina found independent candidate Deez Nuts polling at 9 percent, with Donald Trump at 40 percent, and Hillary Clinton at 38 percent. In that same poll, Deez Nuts has just a 6 percent favorability rating, but 81 percent of respondents said they were “not sure” of their opinion on the candidate.
But Deez Nuts is not unique in its longshot quest for the highest office in the land. According to a CBS News story, more than 500 people are seeking the presidency. Among them: a crustacean named “Crawfish Crawfish,” Buddy the Elf, and a cat named “Limberbutt McCubbins.”
Iowa teenager Brady Olson filed the required paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to put Deez Nuts on the ballot after hearing of Limberbutt McCubbins’ story. Olson said he follows politics very closely and created a Deez Nuts for President 2016 Facebook page to raise awareness and to promote the platform of Deez Nuts.
Online news source The Daily Beast spoke with Jim Williams, an issue polling specialist a Public Policy Polling, about the reaction to Deez Nuts’ candidacy.
“The polls are pretty long. By the time we drop Deez Nuts on them, they’re pretty deep into the poll,” Williams says, then pauses. “The jokes write themselves.”
