On June 28-29, the American Independent Party held its state convention in Los Angeles. The convention chose Ed King for state chair, and nominated a slate of presidential electors pledged to Chuck Baldwin for president. Approximately 35 delegates attended. Outgoing state chair Ed Noonan did not attend. Outgoing vice-chair Mark Seidenberg did appear at the convention hotel, but he did not enter the convention hall. Noonan and Seidenberg are opposed to Baldwin’s nomination, and support Alan Keyes.

The convention had been called by 9 state officers of the party, more than a month before the convention itself. The officers had acted when it appeared that Noonan would not be calling a state convention this year. The party hired a professional parliamentarian to help with the meeting.

Noonan has called an alternate state convention for July 5-6 in Sacramento.

New York doesn’t permit independent candidates, and the nominees of unqualified parties, to start circulating petitions until July 7. Ralph Nader’s petition in New York will carry the ballot label “Populist”. The logo will be a buffalo.

Rock the Debates has been fighting to persuade the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates to agree to at least one general election presidential debate that includes presidential candidates who could theoretically win the election. See www.rockthedebates.org. The group’s activists hold a conference call approximately twice a month. The group is seeking to expand, and particularly wants to have an official representative of the Constitution and Green presidential campaigns. Contact Bob Sullentrup at rwsully@charter.net, or 636-946-3227, if you want to be part of Rock the Debates.