The Slatest

Deez Nuts Is a Registered Presidential Candidate; He’s Also a 15-Year-Old Kid from Iowa

Poll numbers Lindsey Graham would kill for.

PPP polling.

The Internet erupted with unfettered glee on Wednesday with the news of a dark horse independent candidate for president with surging poll numbers named Deez Nuts. It’s been that kind of campaign so far. If that sounds like a joke, you’re only half right.

It turns out, yes, a registered candidate for president named Deez Nuts was polling disturbingly well in a Public Policy Polling (PPP) poll released on Wednesday: 9 percent in North Carolina, 8 percent in Minnesota, and 7 percent in Iowa. If you were worried, however, that Deez Nuts might sully the already thoroughly Trumped presidential waters, fear not. The Deez Nuts for President 2016 FEC filing declaring a run for president was filled out by—unsurprisingly—a 15-year-old boy. His name is Brady Olson.

Brady has a website:

Welcome to the official campaign website for Deez Nuts’$2 2016 presidential run. On July 26th, 2015, Deez Nuts(I-IA) officially filed as a candidate for President. Almost immediately, our campaign started to generate substantial media buzz. The media attention might have gotten the word out, but now we need YOUR help to get on the ballot. Check out our platform to learn where Deez Nuts stands on the issues, or check out our ballot access page to see what needs to be done to see Deez Nuts on the ballot in 2016. If you are interested in helping with the campaign, contact us and ask us your questions. We will be happy to answer them. - Deez Nuts for President National Committee

Rolling Stone caught up with Brady and asked what made him think he was qualified to be President—of the United States:

The fact that if I can fill out a form so vague that it doesn’t include your age, or the fact that all get accepted even if they’re only partially filled, anyone can run.

Hard to argue with a hero. But the surge in support has even surprised Olson.

Rolling Stone: Did Public Policy Polling start using your name in polls at your request — or did they start doing that independently?

Olson: I asked, but I wanted it to be against low-pollers, like me vs Lindsey Graham vs Lincoln Chafee, to see how desperate voters would be in that situation.

Ouch.