Hank the cat in Virginia sets sights on US Senate

[February 29, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD, Va. (AP) -- A new U.S. Senate candidate in Virginia wears a tie, has a campaign website and even launched an ad. One big difference? He has a thick coat of fur.

Hank the cat has thrown his paw into the race, running to mock the political status quo. The cat's owner, Anthony Roberts, says he and his partner set up the campaign as an inside joke. But the campaign's website has crashed after a recent spate of publicity.

Hank's campaign posters show the Maine Coon gazing upward, wearing a tie. An ad says Hank, a moderate, will work to make sure America stays the greatest land of all.

Hank is running for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. James Webb, a Democrat.

[Associated Press]

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