WASHINGTON – There are some serious questions circulating about a Virginia candidate for U.S. Senate.

Namely, whether the candidate has a birth certificate, why he hasn’t released his tax returns and whether he ever served in the military.

We’re talking about Hank the cat, a Maine coon whose owner entered him into the race for the seat soon to be vacated by Sen. James Webb, a Democrat.

The satirical spoof was originally started as an inside joke between the cat’s owner and his partner — who set up a campaign website for the cat, the AP reports. But since, the joke’s popularity has gained a lot of attention.

Now, a new YouTube video asks voters to consider the legitimacy of this feline frontrunner.

Hank is a former street cat from Springfield, Va., who describes himself in a news release as a “proud Independent with real world experience.”

Rescued from euthanization by animal rescue group Animal Allies, Hank says his biggest campaign issue is low cost spaying and neutering for the homeless animal population.

It’s not clear if the campaign is a protest over the actual candidates on the ballot or a farce, because Hank is not talking.

WTOP reached out to his campaign, and nobody there is talking either.

Related stories:

• Feline candidate enters Virginia race for U.S. Senate (VIDEO)
• Hank the cat in Virginia sets sights on US Senate

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