According to a source within Americans Elect, Jon Huntsman will seek the Americans Elect presidential nomination, and Evan Bayh is willing to be his running mate. Huntsman was Governor of Utah 2004-2008. Bayh was Indiana Governor 1988-1996, and U.S. Senator 1998-2010. Huntsman and Bayh have not told Americans Elect leaders that they will seek the nomination.

Because Huntsman is a Republican and Bayh is a Democrat, the proposed ticket is deemed “balanced” by the Americans Elect bylaws. If Huntsman wins the on-line Americans Elect presidential primary, and Bayh becomes his running mate, the Americans Elect board would have no ability to contradict the results of the on-line primary. Of course, Huntsman and Bayh are the type of candidates whom the founders of Americans Elect would wish to see nominated in any event.

On March 8, the Missouri House Rules Committee passed HB 1060, which, among other things, raises the presidential primary filing fee from $1,000 to $10,000. It provides for a petition in lieu of the filing fee of 5,000 signatures, but only for candidates who swear they can’t afford the filing fee.

On March 13, Maine Governor Paul LePage submitted budget proposals that include a substantial reduction in public funding for campaigns for state office. The Governor says less money is needed, because the U.S. Supreme Court decision last year in the Arizona Free Enterprise Club decision eliminated extra public funding for publicly-funded candidates who have well-financed privately-funded opponents.

However, the Maine legislature hasn’t even finished the job of amending the Maine public funding system. The bill to revise it has passed the Senate but not the House. The Governor’s budget would preempt alternative ideas to fix the public funding program. Thanks to Alex Hammer for this news.