On September 10, the Kansas Secretary of State removed Chuck Baldwin from the ballot, and substituted Ted Weill for president, as the Reform Party’s presidential nominee. This action was taken, even though the Kansas Secretary of State knows that the Kansas Reform Party nominated Chuck Baldwin and even though there are no Reform Party candidates for presidential elector pledged to Weill. The Kansas Secretary of State took this action after being notified by a Texas Reform Party official that the Reform Party national convention had nominated Weill. I spoke to an elections department official in Kansas, who said that it is the responsibility of the state party to nominate candidates for presidential elector. I said, “But the Kansas Reform Party supports Baldwin.” He said, “We know.”

The Baldwin campaign is seeking an attorney. As most readers of this blog know, the true candidates in November in a presidential election are the candidates for presidential elector. The only candidates for elector certified to the Kansas Secretary of State have said they will vote for Baldwin if they are elected to the electoral college. The Kansas Secretary of State has no logic on his side.

On September 10, U.S. District Court Judge Yvette Kane held a hearing in Baldwin v Cortes, over the August 1 petition deadline for minor party and independent candidate petitions in Pennsylvania. The hearing lasted one hour and fifteen minutes. The Judge seemed sympathetic to the Constitution Party’s position, but also concerned that if she rules against the deadline, that would cause election administration problems for Pennsylvania. No witnesses testified for either side. A decision is expected in a few days.

Here is the Associated Press short version of Ron Paul’s press conference of September 10, a conference at which Cynthia McKinney, Ralph Nader, and Chuck Baldwin all spoke. The AP puts the emphasis on Paul’s refusal to endorse John McCain.