CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Yes, West Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and he's running for president.
That would be the Santa Claus of Incline Village, Nev., who legally changed his name from Thomas O'Connor in 2005.
Claus is one of 14 write-in presidential candidates registered with the West Virginia secretary of state's office.
That relatively high number is partly thanks to West Virginia's easy rules for registering: write-in candidates only have to fill out some paperwork and they're done.
Other states make it harder, and barriers to write-in candidates range from requiring running mates to locating people to serve as presidential electors.
Claus is running to draw attention to abused and neglected children. He is registered as a candidate in 16 states.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)