An anonymous group of Republican Party donors has asked a Republican political consulting firm to research how an independent presidential candidate can get on state ballots. See this document. Here is a Politico story about the report. The authors of the report seem to miss the fact that procedures for a new party in Delaware, Florida, New Mexico, and Texas, are far easier than the requirements to be an independent presidential candidate. The firm is Data Targeting.
Ballot Access News
Edited By Richard Winger
In Texas, doesn’t an organization intending to seek party status through a ballot access petition process have to have made known an intention to the Secretary of State of Texas already earlier in January?
Yes. Six unqualified parties filed that notice: Constitution, Reform, Modern Whig, Christian, Socialist, and Veterans.
The Texas requirement that such a notice be filed has never been tested in court. As applied to presidential elections, it seems obvious that it is unconstitutional under Anderson v Celebrezze, 460 US 780 (1983).
Regarding their redacted short lists – gotta laugh as they do look short. http://www.politics1.com reports in their twitter feed that they think Rick Perry is on it. Makes sense for Texas, but I don’t see all that much excitement about him for any other states. I honestly don’t see “conservatives” pulling such a stunt out of fear of a Hillary presidency. Still, I could use the extra coin, so Richard, please feel free to forward them my email. 🙂
Gee — the Natural Law Party in Michigan might have multiple suitors for their Presidential ticket line, if this effort goes through and a Bloomberg campaign materializes. . . .