Topic: Ron Paul
Michael Bloomberg / Ron Paul ticket qualifies for VA ballot Bloomberg and Paul make the Virginia ballot as Greens. No, I am not making this up.by George Dance
(libertarian)
Monday, August 18, 2008
Late last week, "Indy Greens" Chairman Carey Campbell got word from the Virginia state Board of Elections that his minor party's petition drive to get [NYC mayor Michael] Bloomberg on the ballot had been successful.
"Yes, it's true," an exuberant Campbell declared. "In eight months and 15 days, we collected over 70,000 signatures. Right now, we're the only state in the nation that has Michael Bloomberg on the ballot for President."
On Monday, the Huffington Post independently confirmed the story, adding new information on Bloomberg's running mate:
On Friday, under the radar, the Independent Green Party of Virginia successfully gathered enough signatures to put New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's name on the presidential ballot. They did it all without the mayor's knowledge or consent. Moreover, they wrote in as his number two Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a hero to an impassioned group of libertarians, online activists, and U.S. foreign policy critics.
"Indy Greens started the presidential petition drive on January 1, 2008 in Independence, Virginia," party chairman Carey Campbell told the Post. "Eight months, 15 days later, the cake is baked. The deed is done. We're happy hillbillies. Since January 1st, Indy Greens collected 70,000 petition signatures. Seven successful petition drives to put five candidates on the ballot for U.S. House, and 2 statewide petition drives... and now Michael Bloomberg on ballot for president. We made a promise to Mr. Bloomberg, and now we have kept that promise."
The Independent Greens are the state affiliate of the Independence Party of America, a national organization set up last year by New York Independence Party Chairman Frank MacKay as a vehicle for the aborted Bloomberg presidential bid.
It is still an open question whether the Bloomberg/Paul ticket will be on the Virgina ballot, as neither one has consented to the nomination.
"If it is an issue that a candidate is put forth, we assume that the internal communications have happened. But if we were to receive a letter from Mayor Bloomberg that he doesn't want his name on the ballot, we would have to look into the matter to see why the nominee for a party doesn't want to be that nominee," stated Matthew Abell, assistant Manager at Virginia's State Board of Elections. "It is a free country and if he chooses to not have his name on the ballot he has every right to do so."
"Yes, Bloomberg must consent to this and it will be up to the Board of Elections," Campbell confirmed. "But we made a promise and we wanted to keep it and we have."
Campbell told the News that he didn't officially co-ordinate with anyone connected to Bloomberg for the petition drive, but was in touch with the mayor's top political aide, Kevin Sheekey. It was not reported whom if anyone he was in touch with regarding Ron Paul.
Bloomberg spokesman Stu Loeser later emailed the Post: "He hasn't made any decisions and hasn't had a chance to speak with Campbell yet.... But this is a call for post-partisanship that Mayor Bloomberg hopes the major parties will hear."
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UPDATES, Aug. 19: Indications today are that both Bloomberg and Paul will allow their names to stand. Ballot Access News reported this morning that "Bloomberg lawyer Amy Neuhardt indicated that he may not act to have his name removed. It is unclear if Ron Paul would act to have his name removed."
At Politico, Ben Smith quoted from a Neuhardt memo that "addresses whether Mayor Bloomberg must take any action in response to [the Independent Greens of Virginia's] success in submitting Bloomberg's and Rep. Ron Paul's name." Per the memo, "There does not, however, appear to be any requirement that the ultimate candidates for president and vice-president file any certification of candidacy."
Smith adds that "Bloomberg's lawyer is now seeking to confirm with Virginia officials that 'Mayor Bloomberg has no obligation to act one way or the other in response to the successful petition of the Independent Greens of Virginia.'"
Smith's conclusion: "The implication of the memo is that Bloomberg is considering remaining on the ballot in a pivotal state and the site of recent, close partisan elections. It's a move that could draw votes away from one of the nominees -- though it's not immediately clear whom -- and offer Bloomberg a continuing platform."
Passively remaining on the ballot would allow Bloomberg to test and demonstrate his draw as a presidential candidate, without making any commitments or enemies. With Virginia widely considered a purple (swing) state this year, he could "spoil" the state for either McCain or Obama.
Paul's presence on the ticket could inflate Bloomberg's totals; it is easy to see the campaign attracting rEVOLutionaries from around the country. It could have a disastrous effect on the Libertarian and Constitution presidential vote totals in the state.
Paul has not commented on the story. He has been attending his wife, who was recently hospitalized in critical condition.
At Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty (the successor organization to Paul's recently-suspended presidential campaign), spokesman Jesse Benton commented favourably on the news, without any hint that the campaign objects or plans to challenge:
In an interesting tidbit, the Independent Green Party has placed Dr. Paul and Michael Bloomberg on the ballot as their presidential ticket in Virginia.
My take:
The IGP knew that the name Ron Paul would pull a few votes (probably Bloomberg too)
Dr. Paul’s traditional, conservative American message has tremendous crossover appeal with the Left. You don’t see them nominating Mitt Romney, do you?
In all seriousness, Dr. Paul is an environmentalist. He just understands that the best way to protect our natural resources is by enforcing private property rights, not Big Government....
Greens – come join us, environmentalism is very libertarian! The first thing most people stop caring about during tough economic times is protecting the environment. The top-to-bottom prosperity that only true free markets can provide is the best way to preserve our world. A wealthy people have time to smell the roses; and prevent acid rain.
Benton later told Reason's Hit & Run blog that Paul "thinks it's kind of neat that libertarian message has crossover appeal. Obviously there's not much Ron has in common with the mayor, so it's a bit of a publicity stunt. But they wouldn't have thought of him as a candidate if his name didn't have some pull."
Hit & Run verified that "Paul will not challenge his ballot status. 'We're not going to take any action to get his name off,' Benton said, 'but at the same time we're not encouraging it.'"
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article are those of George Dance only and do not represent
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Posted By: Walt Thiessen
Date: 2008-08-20 10:39:48
As a Virginia resident, I find this an interesting ballot choice, but not interesting enough. If they'd reversed the order and put Ron Paul at the top of their ticket, they'd have gotten more votes, including mine probably. A real opportunity to vote for Ron Paul for president? I could probably hold my nose long enough to ignore Bloomberg's name on such a ballot entry for VP. As it is, I think I'm still going to just write Ron Paul in, even if it means my vote is officially ignored.
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