Charles Darwin may be dead and gone but a recent write-in campaign has pitted him against Republican Rep. Paul Broun of Georgia. The stunt, spearheaded by libertarian Atlanta radio host Neal Boortz, has its own Facebook page, which appeared Oct 8.

Broun – a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee – called evolution and other tenets of modern science lies "straight from the pit of hell" in a leaked video from a private speech he gave during a banquet at Liberty Baptist Church of Hartwell, Georgia. He faces no Democratic opposition in November's election and seems unperturbed by having the 19th-century English scientist as an opponent.

"Dr. Broun welcomes Mr. Darwin as a challenger," wrote Meredith Griffanti, Rep. Broun's spokeswoman in an e-mail to Wired. He "is particularly looking forward to the debate portion of the campaign - we're sure it will be very lively."

Broun, a medical doctor, represents Georgia's 10th congressional district, where he has served since 2007. He is deeply conservative, interprets the Bible literally and believes the Earth is 9,000 years old. He also is a member of the Tea Party caucus and serves alongside other anti-science members, such as Rep. Todd Akin, on the House Science Committee.

Darwin, who first published his theory of evolution in 1859, has a couple of small issues as the anti-Broun candidate. His status as non-living and the fact Georgia law requires write-in candidates to register by early September means that Broun is unlikely to be unseated. But supporters of the campaign hope that it gets enough votes to pressure Republicans into removing Broun from a leadership post on the House Science Committee, according to the Associated Press.

Image: Congressman Paul Broun testifying. U.S Department of Agriculture/Flickr