Mitt Romney

The presidential hopeful also inspired a host of conspiracy theories in 2012. His Mexican-born father set off a brief Birther frenzy. His unprecedented refusal to release his tax returns gave rise to rumors of secret bank accounts. His claim to have left Bain Capital years before he actually did. But it was Rush Limbaugh who concocted the wackiest theory when he suggested that "Hollywood" smeared Romney by calling Batman's latest villain Bane. (Bane was actually created in 1993.)