On October 8, a status conference was held in Libertarian Party of Connecticut v Bysiewicz, the case to get Bob Barr on the ballot. The judge wants to see copies of all the petitions, and so photocopying is going on as quickly as possible. The issue is whether there really are 7,500 valid signatures for Barr.
The Federal Election Commission during 2008 has sent Ralph Nader $881,494 in primary season matching funds. By contrast, in 2004, he received $664,151.
Primary season matching funds are awarded to anyone who raises at least $5,000 in each of 20 states, and who seeks the nomination of a political party. Although Nader was fundamentally an independent presidential candidate in both 2004 and 2008, in both years he actively sought and won the nomination of various political parties.
On October 7, the Ralph Nader campaign announced the opening of campaign offices in these cities:
1. California: Berkeley, Fresno, Los Angeles, and Sacramento
2. Illinois: Chicago
3. Maine: Portland
4. New York: Syracuse
5. Michigan: Lansing
Very soon, additional openings will occur in Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania, as well as other states. There should be 22 offices open by October 11. The www.votenader.org website should list all the offices by the end of the day on October 8.
On September 5, the Federal Election Commission gave the John McCain campaign committee a check for $84,103,800. For the first time in U.S. history, only one candidate is receiving general election funding. Barack Obama was eligible for an equal amount, but his campaign declined the money.
The only instances at which any presidential campaigns, other than the Democratic and Republican campaigns, received general election funding, were 1980 and 2000. John Anderson’s campaign received his general election funding after the 1980 election, based on his 7% showing. The Reform Party received general election funding in 2000 based on its 1996 showing of 8%.
The Prohibition Party has just published its first newsletter of the year, the October 2008 issue of “National Prohibitionist.” It is the first published newsletter since the “National Statesman” of December 2007. The mailing includes a bumper sticker for the party’s presidential candidate, Gene Amondson, as well as a button. Those interested may contact the editor, Jim Hedges, at Box 212, Needmore Pa 17238, or see the party’s webpage, www.prohibitionists.org.
