Darwin Supporters Take Their Message To the Streets, Again, to Defeat U.S. Rep. Paul Broun

Just 5,000. That's all Tim Denson wants.

If write-in candidate Charles Darwin receives 5,000 write-in votes against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, Denson will be happy.

"I detest most of what Broun has ever said or done, and I'm sorry no one ran against him," said Denson, 31, who works in a retail job in Athens. "I'm sorry I didn't run against him, but this is the way I'm helping to send out a vote of dissent."

Broun's remarks about evolution being "lies from the pit of hell" sent Denson, who finds a creative outlet in protesting, over the edge. For Halloween, he dyed his full beard gray, donned a black suit and bowler, and became, for a while, Charles Darwin himself.

"At least 100 people have told me they've already voted for Darwin," he said. "We could do well, percentage wise, in Athens, because Broun isn't campaigning at all since he's unopposed."

On Friday, Denson--wearing a black bowler and gray beard--was once again at the Arch, waving a sign at the many drivers flocking to downtown for the UGA homecoming parade. He and others handed out fliers telling people to vote for Darwin.

Many people honked, waved and gave thumbs up signs to Denson and the handful of other Darwin supporters. Alan Black, 29, was one of many passersby who didn't take the flier, saying he had already voted for Darwin.

"Even a dead guy would provide better leadership for Athens than Broun has," said Black, a doctoral candidate at UGA in geography.