August 1 was the Pennsylvania deadline for independent candidate petitions, and petitions for the nominees of unqualified parties. Four groups submitted statewide petitions: the Constitution, Green, and Libertarian Parties, and independent presidential candidate Rocky De La Fuente. The Constitution Party petition had approximately 7,600 signatures; all the others had approximately 20,000. The state requires 5,000.
I was told Rocky could not qualify since he ran in the primary.
Does it look like the Constitution Party will make it? Obviously, their margin for error is slimmer.
If their whole effort was grassroots, there’s a chance. If they paid petitioners, which come at abut 50% validity, they will not make it.
I’ve been told if you want to get on the ballot, go with paid petitioners. The grassroots have heart, but they don’t have the drive.
I believe that Rocky de la Fuente turned in about 10,500 signatures.
Kevin, it depends on who the paid petition circulators are. The better paid petition circulators regularly get validity rates in the 70’s-80’s% range, and sometimes higher.