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and
Positive Campaign Reform." Beyond the United States, O'Leary and Roberts gained the help of Svetlana Petrova, a St. Petersburg-based artist, who designed two-dollar bills featuring Hank. On election day, Hank supporters stood outside polling stations trying to gain last-minute supporters; an effort which, according to O'Leary and Roberts, led to a baffled albeit positive reaction from voters, although he said that they received a frosty reception from Republican volunteers. Hank himself slept through the day.
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intended to donate to animal charities, including one in Russia selected by
Petrova in gratitude for her help. Roberts commended the effort, saying, "There are literally going to be lives that are saved with that. From our personal point of view we got to share our kitty with the entire world, and that's really great."
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regular political campaigns. Initially, Hank ran for state Senate, but gained only 9 write-in votes, though his owners mocked that by saying that regular politicians respond to such a defeat by running for the next highest office, which led to their decision to stand Hank for the United States Senate.
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Though a joke candidacy, the campaign was built upon a couple of serious points—mocking conventional candidates, and to raise awareness and funds for animal groups, and rescue organizations donated $ 16,000 to the campaign. Hank's policies were described as "Animal Rescue, Spay & Neuter programs,
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In his joke biography, Hank was encouraged to run because of his life story, experiences and his work ethic, while his website described him as "a refreshing candidate—energetic, inspiring, and real". In reality, owners
Matthew O'Leary and Anthony Roberts put him up when they both grew exasperated by
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In the election there were 7,319 write-in votes and Hank's owners stated that these all were votes for Hank, making him third. This prompted media coverage not just in
Virginia, but also nationally and internationally. By the end of the campaign, O'Leary and Roberts raised $ 60,000, which they
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According to a satirical biography of Hank lampooning the rags-to-riches biographies prevalent for mainstream Senate candidates, Hank and his siblings were found on a street and taken to an animal shelter, and were initially designated for
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109:"Hank The Cat, Charles Darwin, And 'None Of These Candidates' All Had Strong Showings On Election Day"
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182:"Hank The Cat, Running For Virginia Senate, Setting His Sights On 2016?"
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241:"Hank the Cat Claws His Way to Third Place in Virginia Senate Race"
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301:"'Hank For Senate' Cat Campaign Dogged By Attack Ad (VIDEO)"
132:"Goodbye To Hank, Beloved Cat Who Ran For U.S. Senate"
209:. Yahoo! News. 9 November 2012. Archived from
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22:(August 2001 – February 13, 2014) was a
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239:Freed, Benjamin (9 November 2012).
207:"Hank the cat third in senate race"
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180:Greenwood, Arin (26 April 2012).
299:Tuttle, Hillary (2 March 2012).
130:Greenwood, Arin (2014-02-13).
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348:2012 Virginia elections
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278:The Huffington Post
213:on 12 November 2012
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368:Novelty candidates
353:2014 animal deaths
343:2001 animal births
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159:"About Hank"
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42:Early life
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111:. Gawker
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