Can 2 republicans run even if not nominated?

[robertwerden]

If anyone who has the money can run and get on the ballot, why can't Ron Paul run in the general election as a republican?

 

[Omnis]

Because you need the endorsement of the republican party to put the party name next to yours.

 

[RideTheDirt]

I believe so, as an Independent?...somebody clarify?
As a Write in candidate you need petitions from every state right?

 

[Lovecraftian4Paul]

Never heard of two Republicans running at once. Though there were a number of "independent Democrats" who ran throughout the decades. Strom Thurmond representing the old pro-segregation "Dixiecrats" famously ran as an independent Democrat when the party split in 1948.

I guess the closet thing to an independent Republican was John Anderson running against Reagan and Carter in 1980.

 

[Lovecraftian4Paul]

I believe so, as an Independent?...somebody clarify?
As a Write in candidate you need petitions from every state right?

Yes, write-in candidates must register themselves in every state and pay a small fee (I think).

Actually getting on the ballot requires a nominal fee and various amounts of signatures in each state. I still think it would be worth it just to try to throw Ron Paul on the ballot as an independent. If he doesn't want to run and the GOP throws a tantrum, he truly can say it was his supporters who did it. It would be nice to do it in even a few of the swing states, just to make McCain squirm.

It isn't as hard as some think in many states. Minnesota only requires about 5,000 signatures. Even the nutcase Socialist Workers' Party gets usually gets their Presidential candidate on the ballot here every four years (and only receives about 1,000 votes--1/5 the number who sign for them to be on the ballot).

Heck, play the Democrats with the spoiler argument. If you took Ron Paul ballot petitions to some of the summer left-wing events, you would have ballot access in less than a week. They'd sign out of sympathy with the anti-war position and because they think it would help Obama by hurting McCain.

 

[AJ Antimony]

Two Republican nominees? No, I don't think so. Maybe if their convention rumped and nominated two...

But two candidates who are registered Republican? Yes. One would have been nominated by the Republican party and the other would not. He would be running Independent.

Personally I think Independent is the only way Ron can get on the November ballot. A third party nomination would just ruin everything since he's been a Republican for so long. Remember the only reason he was the Libertarian nominee in '88 was because Ron wasn't in Congress at the time whereas he is now and on top of that he's been participating in Republican debates and conventions.

 

[robertwerden]

I understand the purpose of the primaries is to narrow down the candidates, however in this case McCain some how got above much more Republican people, namely Ron Paul and I think it is our right to show we don't think McCain is a true Republican and get Ron Paul to Run against him as a Republican in the general election.

 

[Aratus]

folks, this may, when the libertarians are in denver, ron paul has to be elsewhere... especially if he wants to be in or near st. paul come this september. the factoidal facts of the matter...