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.

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, the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office determined that Rocky Anderson does indeed have enough valid signatures to be on the ballot. That office had originally found that he did not have enough. But the Anderson campaign identified some signatures that had been wrongfully disqualified, and the state now agrees that the petition is sufficient.

However, the Justice Party was unable to re-validate enough signatures in Arkansas, so Anderson will not appear on the Arkansas ballot.

The Anderson petition in Rhode Island appears likely to succeed; the state has tallied 995 valid signatures so far, with some towns still not having reported.