James Edward Jennelle Jr., August 31, 1964 -
VP candidate for Independent (aka Unaffiliated) (2012)
Running mate with nominee: Nelson Lee Keyton Jr. (1958-2016)
Popular vote: 4 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
Nelson Lee Keyton, Jr. of Roanoke, Va. ran for President as a write-in in 2012. His Youtube page did not contain any campaign videos. Instead he spent the year presenting a series of esoteric Biblical lectures. Kicking it off on Christmas, 2011, the introductory text explained--
This and the following videos will delve into the mysteries of the Torah,who is Moshiach,why he is alive now and what to expect as Hashem's annointed begins to bring about world peace..The identity of Moshiach and miracles that have already transpired..I am Hashem's Annointed one,the King of Israel...My soul is that of Moses reincarnated...I will not be bruised until I have established the true way over the entire earth....I would hope all peoples would soon recognize this fact as revealed to me by Hashem and I will attest to under polygraph if required..The earth will soon mold itself in the ways of peace,may the Almighty establish his reign forever...Many miracles have surrounded me from birth,including fire falling from heaven in the sight of witnesses and many more will occur...May Hashem triumph !!
Keyton's actual campaign website has vanished, but some observers were careful to preserve and report some of the content, faithfully duplicating the typos as well. One of the sources archiving the electioneering material was Cracked's list of "5 Crazy People Who You Can Elect President Tomorrow"--
"THIS SITE IS SET UP FOR WRITE IN CANDIDATE NELSON KEYTON...THE ONLY MAN IN EXISTENCE WHO CAN BRING ABOUT WORLD PEACE THROUGH OVERWHELMING STRENGTH AND KNOWLEDGE...AN ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE WHO HAS STUDIED, RESEARCHED, AND IS READY TO IMPLIMENT THE TRUE WAY OF PEACE ON EARTH...A DIM WICK, WHO WILL NOT BE SNUFFED OUT...A BRUISED REED, WHO WILL NOT BE CRUSHED , UNTIL HE HAS ESTABLISHED THE TRUE WAY ON EARTH . WITH AN IQ OF OVER ( 200), NO PRESIDENT OR CANDIDATE CAN MATCH HIS KNOWLEDGE ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, OR ALMOST ANY OTHER SUBJECT....."
"Wtih his understanding of the universe and it's principals Nelson Keyton can pull you into his world of safety and serenity ... You will begin to feel that even the elements of the Universe are beginning to take on the semblance of the ensuing peace and slowly you will recognize that what has begun is a supernatural occurence. The world will finally be complete and at peace ... my name is Nelson Keyton and I know how to fix this planet we call earth."
Keyton described himself as "truly a man whose mind is unfathomable." The comments section on the part of his blog that asked, "What Do You Want Me To Do As President?" was disabled.
Keyton's running-mate was Jay Jennelle, who received zero press coverage other than his name listed among the candidates from what I can find. I am making an educated guess here that he is James E. "Jay" Jennelle of Christiansburg, Va., who seems to be somehow related to the standard-bearer.
Keyton was a registered write-in in 10 states, three of his four reported votes were from Maryland, one vote in Ohio. The fact that both men on the ticket were residents of the same state would have posed a Constitutional problem. If they had managed to overcome that, Jennelle would have become President on July 22, 2016, the date of Keyton's death.
After the election, in a news article about Israel, Keyton made a comment in late Nov. 2012--
I ran as a write in candidate in USA to try and give Israel support from United States..Put my name in to run for Prime Minister..I will come to Israel and defend her..I'm a direct decendant of King Dovid..Shimshon slew 1000 with the jawbone of a donkey.. Signed -FEARLESS-
Election history: none
Other occupations: paving
Notes:
A news report from Jan. 25, 2002:
The F-B-I has found a suspect in a Roanoke bank robbery.
Nelson Lee Keyton, Junior, was fired from his job at WalMart in August.
Keyton had said he had to make a house payment by October 26th, or he'd lose his home in foreclosure.
The court papers filed yesterday indicate that was the day Amy Hunter says she drove Keyton to the Valley Bank, that he got out with a gun, a peach-colored pillow case and a mask that "looked like a President." Bank employees later told police the robber was wearing a Ronald Reagan mask. Hunter said she was there when Keyton burned the mask and pillow case.
Records indicate Keyton was released from prison in 2005.
