About a dozen people gathered at the Arch Friday evening in support of a political candidate who's not even an American citizen. No, not Barack Obama—this one's been dead for 130 years. He's Charles Darwin, the naturalist who founded the theory of evolution.

A facetious Darwin for Congress campaign has cropped up in response to U.S. Rep. Paul Broun's claims that the Earth is 9,000 years old, and the theories of evolution and the Big Bang are "lies straight from the pit of Hell."

Deceased British citizens are, of course, ineligible to serve in Congress, and even if they were, Darwin isn't officially registered as a write-in candidate. However, Tim Denson doesn't see Broun's status as a living American as an advantage. "I'm dead, but Paul Broun's brain-dead," said Denson, who was dressed as the scientist. "I don't have a pulse. He doesn't have a brain."

Reaction has ranged from positive to head-scratching, said his wife, Jenny Denson. "I think people think there's an actual Darwin running for Congress," she said.

Tim Denson said he is hoping that 5,000 people will write in Darwin's name against Broun, and the protest votes will make national news (although the Associated Press has already told stringers it won't report Darwin's vote total because he's ineligible to win). "I heard from a bunch of people who've already early-voted, so I think we're going to do well with this," Denson said.

Another rally is scheduled next Friday at 5 p.m. at the Arch. Next Saturday or Sunday, Darwin supporters are planning on going to Augusta, which is also part of Broun's district.