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.

Primaries (for office other than president) were held on September 9 in Delaware, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

In New York, the Republican primary for U.S. House, 13th district (Staten Island and part of Brooklyn) was a contest between Robert Straniere, Jim Wyne, and Carmine Morano. Straniere won. But Paul Atanasio, a registered member of the Conservative Party who had wanted to run in the Republican primary, will be on the November ballot as the Conservative Party nominee. Also, Carmine Morano (who was only a write-in in the Republican primary) will be on in November as the Independence Party nominee.

ThirdPartyWatch reports that Dean Barkley easily won the Minnesota Independence Party primary for U.S. Senate.