Thirteen U.S. House members have been defeated for re-election in partisan primaries this year. The congressional primaries for the year are finally over. They stretched from March 13 to September 11. See this story for more details. Eight of the thirteen lost to other incumbents. This only happens in years following redistricting. None of the defeated incumbents were in states that have held top-two primaries already this year. Thanks to Thomas Jones for the link.
Free & Equal and its founder, Christina Tobin, organized the only 2008 presidential debate in which every candidate who was on the ballot in states containing a majority of the electoral vote was invited, and in which some of those invited candidates did participate. That debate took place, but only Ralph Nader and Chuck Baldwin participated. Free and Equal also sponsored a 2008 vice-presidential debate, in which the Matt Gonzalez, Wayne Allyn Root, and Darrell Castle participated.
Free & Equal is working for a 2012 presidential debate, to be held in Chicago on Tuesday, October 23, the day after the last Commission on Presidential Debates event is held. Again, candidates who are, or may possibly, be on the ballot in states containing a majority of the electoral vote are invited. Gary Johnson and Jill Stein are definitely on the ballot in states containing a majority of the electoral vote, and Virgil Goode may be, if his petition in Nebraska is approved, and his petition in New Hampshire is approved, and if Kansas election officials let the Reform Party place him on the ballot, and if the Independent Party of Delaware nominates him.
Public Policy Polls has released these results for the presidential, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House races in Montana.
For President, when Gary Johnson is included, the results are: Romney 46%, Obama 43%, Johnson 7%, undecided 5%. When Johnson is omitted, the results are: Romney 50%, Obama 45%, 5% undecided.
For U.S. Senate and U.S. House, which are also both 3-way races, the results are: Senate- Democrat Jon Tester 45%, Republican Denny Rehberg 43%, Libertarian Dan Cox 8%, undecided 3%. Also, House- Republican Steve Daines 40%, Democrat Kim Gillan 37%, Libertarian Dave Kaiser 9%, undecided 15%. Thanks to Mike Fellows for the link.
A few days ago, the Kansas Reform Party state committee met via conference call and revised its presidential nominee from Chuck Baldwin (who doesn’t really want to run for President) to Virgil Goode. The Kansas Objections Board will decide whether to permit the party to change its nominee. The Board consists of the Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General. The Board meets on Thursday, September 13, at 2 p.m.
On September 12, Gallup released a poll that includes five presidential candidates. The results: Obama 50%, Romney 43%, Goode 1%, Johnson 1%, Stein 1%, other 1%, won’t vote 1% (that was volunteered), no opinion 3%. See here. Thanks to Kevin Hayes for the news.
