Some Republicans who donated money to Florida Governor Charlie Crist have brought a lawsuit in state court, seeking to force him to return their campaign contributions. They had given these contributions to Crist while he was a Republican, but now he is an independent. See this story. The case is Morton v Crist, 10-3846-ca, 20th circuit judicial district (Collier County).
The Republican National Committee will consider changing its rules for the presidential candidate selection process. Specifically, the party is mulling over the idea that states that choose delegates to the national convention earlier than April 1 must not use winner-take-all systems. Also the party wants to work with Democrats, and with state legislatures, to guarantee that no more presidential primaries be held earlier than mid-February. In 2008 there were January presidential primaries in New Hampshire, Michigan, South Carolina, and Florida. See this story.
This June 29 editorial in the Yankton, South Dakota Press and Dakotan urges voters to take a look at candidates for important public office who are not nominees of the two major parties.
Former President Bill Clinton has signed a fund-raising letter for Kendrick Meek, one of the two candidates for the U.S. Senate nomination in the Florida Democratic primary of August 24. Clinton’s letter says, “I know a little something about three-candidate races…I believe that Kendrick Meek is the best candidate, and that he’s got a real shot at winning, but only if he gets our help now.” See this article. The article also gives a rundown of all the recent polls in that race.
Two Democratic state legislators in Maine have endorsed an independent gubernatorial candidate, according to this story in the Portland Press Herald. The independent gubernatorial candidate who received the endorsement is Eliot Cutler. The two state legislators are Senator Dennis Damon and Representative Leila Percy.
In many states, if a state legislator endorsed an independent candidate for an office as important as Governor, that legislator would be expelled as a member of that party’s legislative caucus. Thanks to Thomas MacMillan for the link.
