On the evening of May 5, the Republican Party of South Carolina and Fox News hosted the first presidential debate of the 2012 season, for candidates seeking the Republican nomination. Participating were Ron Paul, Gary Johnson, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, and Herman Cain. According to this New York Times story, the chair of the Republican National Committee, Reince Priebus, said, “There are numerous other candidates that are looking at it – and thank God.” Also, John Boehner, speaker of the U.S. House, pointedly did not even watch the debate, at least while it was occurring.

Someone ought to ask Reince Priebus why Republican legislators this year in Oklahoma and Florida are making ballot access for non-major party candidates for President considerably more difficult, and why no Republican Party presidential nominee since 1992 has been willing to let any non-major party presidential candidate into the general election debates. If the orthodox Republican leadership supports policies that it make overwhelmingly difficult for people to run for president outside the major parties, they should not be surprised when candidates seek the Republican nomination even though those candidates espouse political ideas that do not conform to the Republican Party platform or the ideas of the party’s congressional leadership. Thanks to Political Wire for the link.

On April 13, Americans Elect turned in its petition for party status in Arizona. The counties are checking the signatures now, and expect to be finished by May 13. Assuming the petition is valid, Americans Elect will then be ballot-qualified for 2012 in three states. The other two are Nevada and Florida.

Americans Elect wants to choose a presidential nominee in the summer of 2012, in which all U.S. voters would be eligible to participate. The group hopes to nominate a presidential candidate via internet voting. Americans Elect does not desire to have candidates for any office other than President and Vice-President (and presidential electors, of course).

The Alabama Senate had been expected to consider HB 425 on Thursday, May 5. However, it did not do so, and the legislature has now taken a recess until May 24. HB 425 moves the primary for all office from June to March, and also moves the petition deadline for new parties, and non-presidential independent candidates, from June to March.

After the legislature reconvenes on May 24, it will be in session until June 7, give or take a day. In the interim, Senator Cam Ward is expected to inform his fellow legislators that the 11th circuit already struck down Alabama’s old April petition deadline, back in 1991, and that the state would face legal problems if it passes HB 425 in its current form.