Four Parties Start Pennsylvania Petitioning

Posted on by February 16, 2008
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Pennsylvania does not allow unqualified parties to circulate their petitions until mid-February. The petitioning period opened a few days ago. The Constitution, Green, Libertarian and Reform Parties have started, or are on the verge of starting. The statewide requirement is 24,666 signatures, due August 1.

Pennsylvania has no procedure for an unqualified party to circulate a petition that just names the party. Instead, Pennsylvania only has procedures for petitions that list candidates. However, Pennsylvania permits stand-ins. The Constitution Party stand-in national ticket is Jim Clymer for president and Chuck Baldwin for vice-president. The Green Party stand-in national ticket is John Zachmann for president and K.C. McCurry for vice-president. The Libertarian stand-in national ticket is Rochelle Etzel for president and Chuck Boust for vice-president. The Reform Party petition lists Michael Bloomberg for president and Frank McKay for vice-president.

No Democratic-Republican Contest in November in Majority of Pennsylvania State House Districts

Posted on by February 16, 2008
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Filing has closed for the Pennsylvania primaries for all federal and state office this year. Pennsylvania has 203 State House districts. Of those 203 districts, in 103 of them, either no Republican filed to be on the Republican primary, or no Democrat filed in the Democratic primary.

At the April 2008 primaries, primary voters are free to nominate candidates by write-in vote. But no one can be nominated unless he or she receives at least 200 write-in votes. This is difficult, so it is likely that there will be very few, if any, major party nominations filled by write-ins at the primaries.

In 2008, there are 56 districts in which no Republican filed, and 47 districts in which no Democrat filed. By contrast, in 2006, there were 44 State House districts with no Republican on the November ballot, and 29 with no Democrat.

Mary Ruwart May Seek Libertarian Presidential Nomination

Posted on by February 16, 2008
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Dr. Mary Ruwart is considering seeking the Libertarian Party presidential nomination. She is a long-time member of the party best known for her books Healing Our World and Short Answers to the Tough Questions. She has also written extensively on government regulation of the drug industry. She holds a PhD in biophysics and has served on the Libertarian Party National Committee. The Libertarian Party national convention will be in Denver May 22-26.

North Carolina Presidential Primary

Posted on by February 16, 2008
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On February 5, the North Carolina Democratic and Republican Parties told the State Board of Elections which names to list on presidential primary ballots.

Democrats on the list are Hillary Clinton, Mike Gravel, and Barack Obama.

Republicans on the list are Mike Huckabee, Alan Keyes, John McCain, Ron Paul, and Mitt Romney.

The State Board of Elections will meet in early March to decide whether to remove Mitt Romney’s name, since he has withdrawn. The primary is May 6.