Harambe is back – in politics

In death, Harambe the gorilla has found a new life – in politics.

The beloved ape at the Cincinnati Zoo was shot and killed in late May after a small boy fell into Harambe's enclosure, a euthanization that gained international attention.

It also turned the gorilla into an internet star, a subject of many online memes. Now he's become the 800-pound gorilla of political memes, as well.

Tired of politics as usual? Here is Harambe.

Harambe's face is on signs at political conventions, his name on T-shirts and posters. Some Australian voters added Harambe as a write-in candidate on their ballots and his name was added torecent presidential poll, where he won 5 percent support.

"It's taken on a second life after the actual story," said Jim Williams, a polling analyst at Public Policy Polling, which conducted the poll. "I’ve noticed this over the past three weeks or a month – people have injected Harambe into all kinds of things."

Harambe has won Stephen Uhlhorn's endorsement. The 34-year-old teacher from Northside announced his support for the ape on Facebook after seeing some of the numerous Harambe political memes online. Some images are photos of Harambe edited to put Donald Trump's signature "Make America Great" hat atop his head. Others modify Hillary Clinton's H logo to refer to Harambe.

Uhlhorn, who says he's a progressive independent, hasn't decided who he'll back in the November election. But he wants to send a message by announcing his satirical backing for the much-mourned ape.

“I’m really trying to encourage people to think more deeply about caring for each other and using that empathy, which somehow we societally muster for Harambe, I would like to see that extended to everyone,” he said.

Of course, Harambe isn't just a political phenomenon, he's a full-blown internet figure of the moment. Golf fans at the 2016 PGA championship late last month shouted his name, with one yelling "Rest in peace, Harambe." The gorilla is a subject for numerous musical eulogies online.

Not all of his newfound fame has been harmless. Some Twitter users used Harambe as a vehicle to insult African-American actor Leslie Jones, who starred in the recent "Ghostbusters" movie reboot.

For Williams at PPP, adding Harambe as a candidate in a poll is both a joke and serious business. The firm often polls on silly questions or big-on-the-internet characters or themes to attract attention to its more serious work.

But Harambe's support in the poll provides what Williams says is a reality check on the support for third-party candidates, even in this election year with two heavily unliked candidates. People will say they'll backing a name – any name – as long as it's not one of the two major-party candidates. But, they'll change their minds when it counts.

“If you give them a third option, they’re going to take it," Williams said. "But really, when they get in the voting booth, they’re going to vote their party.”

The internet has certainly had fun with Harambe. One Twitter user edited Harambe face into an image of Trump eating fried chicken on his plane, calmly watching Trump eat. One more sign that Harambe is now everywhere.

But for Uhlhorn, 'Harambe for president' is a lot more than a butt of jokes.

“I think it would be instructive for people to consider what it means to be with Harambe," he said. "And use their vote to encourage empathy, community and real solutions in governance rather than fuel a media circus, the crux of which is founded upon vindictive soundbites and the concept of otherness.”

Harambe may be gone, but as a political meme he's injecting some humor and thoughtfulness into an often-dark and turbulent election year.

It's almost enough of a reason to vote for him.