Robert Kuttner, Prominent Writer, Says “Get Ready for a 3-Way Race”

Posted on by January 19, 2016
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Robert Kuttner, a well-known writer and editor, has “Get Ready for a Three-Way Race” in The American Prospect, where he is a co-editor. The title refers to the presidential general election.

One can find fault with the article. John Anderson in 1980 received 6.61% of the general election vote, not 6.3%. Kuttner seems to think that a general election presidential candidate who polls less than 2% of the vote doesn’t even exist. Also, he refers to Ralph Nader in 2000 as an independent candidate, but that year he was the Green Party nominee.

Secret Service Says Only One Cleveland Hotel Suite is Fit to Protect Republican Presidential Nominee

Posted on by January 19, 2016
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According to this story, the U.S. Secret Service says the only hotel near the 2016 Republican national convention that is secure enough to house the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is the Inter Continental Hotel, which is on the campus of the Cleveland Clinc. The story further says that the 15th floor has been set aside for the presumptive nominee. UPDATE: see this story from New York Magazine.

Therefore, if no one knows who the presumptive nominee is at the beginning of the convention, that causes a problem.

The story quotes Matt Borges, chair of the Ohio Republican Party, as saying that of course there will be a presumptive nominee. Borges also says not a single vote has yet been cast in any presidential primary. He is incorrect. Absentee voting started in New Hampshire on January 7.

Alabama State Senator Cam Ward Says He Will Re-Introduce Ballot Access Bill in 2016

Posted on by January 17, 2016
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Alabama State Senator Cam Ward, in an e-mail, says he will again introduce his ballot access improvement bill. He has already introduced it in four previous sessions of the legislature.

Alabama is one of five states in November 2014 with the Democratic-Republican monopoly on the statewide ballot. The others were New Hampshire, New Mexico, California, and Pennsylvania. Since the 2014 election, the Pennsylvania ballot access laws have been declared unconstitutional. And the New Mexico requirements are under attack in the Tenth Circuit, with a hearing in March 2016.

New Hampshire Bill for Approval Voting

Posted on by January 17, 2016
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Four Republican New Hampshire state representatives have introduced a bill for Approval Voting for all office. They are Frank Edelblut, Eric Schlein, Dan McGuire, and Keith Ammon. HB 1521 has a hearing in the House Election Law Committee on Tuesday, January 19, at 1:15 p.m. Thanks to Darryl Perry for this news.

Approval voting lets voters vote for as many candidates as they wish, even if only one is to be elected. It is possible the legislators were motivated to introduce this bill because they feel it would improve the presidential primary process.