‘Dolphin Tale’s’ Winter Wants to ‘Make America Cute Again’

CLEARWATER, FL — There’s a new female candidate in the race for the White House. She’s not exactly experienced in the political arena, but she is capable of swimming circles around the competition.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium announced the official unofficial candidacy of Winter the dolphin Friday. The world-famous critter featured in the “Dolphin Tale” movies plans to run on the 3R Party ticket, which stands for rescue, rehab and release.

Winter decided to swim up for the 2016 presidential race “due to overreaching negativity in the overall electorate,” the aquarium explained in its candidacy announcement. Winter promises to have “a completely positive campaign, and will address key issues that pertain to marine life, the environment, special needs children, and wounded soldiers, all key parts of the CMA mission.”

Winter has yet to announce a running mate, but Hope, her best friend and sidekick, is probably a safe bet. The aquarium says potential cabinet members will be named soon, as well.

The plucky little dolphin has been an international sensation for years. Since her December 2005 rescue, she’s proven herself a fighter and a winner, aquarium officials say. Winter was found entangled in a crab trap rope and lost her tail as a result. She now swims around with the best of them courtesy of a prosthetic tail.

Winter, aquarium officials say, never let that setback set her back, which is why she’s hopeful she can introduce the electorate to “a new form of positive leadership."

Slogans for the new dark horse … dark dolphin’s campaign include “Make America Cute Again” and “I’m With Winter.”

Since Winter’s candidacy is anything but orthodox, the aquarium has announced that voting is already underway. It’s a no-holds-barred kind of race she plans to run, too.

“This is the first time anyone, of any age, from any country, can vote in a U.S. Presidential election,” the aquarium says. Votes can be cast up to 10 times a day, per a person’s device, at WinterForPresident.com.

All joking aside, Winter’s "race" for the White House has a serious goal in mind. If the dolphin manages to reel in 1 million votes, a sponsor has agreed to fly 21-year-old Stephanie Evans from Brownsburg, Indiana, to Clearwater to meet with her flippered hero.

Stephanie just underwent a double kidney-liver transplant and is now in recovery, according to the aquarium.

“During her multi-year ordeal of waiting for a donor, Stephanie visited Winter every few months as her symptoms improved after each visit,” the aquarium said. “She now wants to make a return visit to complete her healing process."

The idea for the "campaign" began to take seed a few years ago, aquarium CEO David Yates told Patch. Since the aquarium's Facebook fans supported the "candidacy" and it was time to inject something positive into this presidential election year, the aquarium decided to let Winter dive into the race.

"We think this fun campaign will really take off," Yates said. "We will be launching new campaign updates every couple of days."

As for the sponsorship, it involves funds the aquarium has set aside to provide travel expenses for fighters like Winter to meet the dolphin. In addition to helping Stephanie see her hero once more, the campaign is hoped to drum up awareness about issues near and dear to the creatures and people at the aquarium.

Winter’s supporters can also make donations to help the campaign along. Rather than attack ads or flashy yard signs, CMA promises the money will go towards its rescue, rehab and release efforts.

To find out more and support Winter’s run for the White House, visit WinterForPresident.com.

Photos of Winter and Winter and Stephanie courtesy of Clearwater Marine Aquarium