ROCKPORT, Mass. — Rockport resident Vermin Supreme is on the ballot for the nation’s first presidential primary in New Hampshire.

A perennial presidential candidate and performance artist, Supreme signed up on the last day possible, wearing his signature rubber boot on his head and touting his plan to provide every American with a pony. Supreme also ran for president in 2004, 2008 and 2012.

A dark horse running on a pony-heavy platform, Supreme joined the favored frontrunners in filing papers to run as a Democrat at the State House in Concord, New Hampshire, on Friday, Nov. 20. He was one of 58 White House hopefuls who have signed up to be on the ballot for the New Hampshire primary. The all-time high was 1992, when 61 signed up.

The same day Republican Ben Carson was due to sign, Supreme is seen wading through Carson supporters, many of them children holding signs reading “Inspire” or Revive,”  in a video on YouTube from Free Keene, an independent news source.

“I will see you in the future,” he is seen saying to them. “Remember kids, your teeth are your friends, and if you treat your friends right they will last you your life.”

One of the tenets of Supreme’s campaign is to make tooth brushing mandatory.

Openly carrying several guns – it’s not clear whether they are real or fake — one with a smiley face balloon and an American flag stuck in the rifle’s stock, and one concealed in the big black boot that serves as a hat, all unloaded he says — he is asked by an unidentified Secret Service agent to take the guns back out to his vehicle, which he does.

He was, however, allowed to bring in a stuffed pony that has a recorded whinny.

While signing papers amid a crush of media and accompanying supporters, he muses what party he should put down.

“No hope, no change, bitter disappointment,” he says. “If you love America so much why don’t you marry it?”

Laying down $1,000 in $50 bills stamped with “not to be used for bribing politicians,” he finishes filling out the papers and takes questions from the press.

Asked about how he’d defeat terrorists by a reporter for the Times and its sister papers, he answered “Hooves on the ground and boots on our heads!”

As in previous campaigns, Supreme advocates giving every American a pony, saying, “A pony-based economy is truly the most important issue. When we have ponies, we will have a beautiful time.”

Vermin said that during an upcoming tour of 20 cities to build support for his campaign, he will try and qualify for Federal Election Commission matching funds. 

The performance artist and activist goes on to riff from behind the clerk’s desk with the media, showing a quick wit and an understanding of the circus-like atmosphere of this season’s run for the highest office in the land.

The primary is expected to be held Feb. 9, but New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner hasn’t set the date yet.

Dimitra Lavrakas writes for the Gloucester Daily Times.