Constitution Party Question

[Bradley in DC]

Ok, this is not an attack, but I really just want to know. The CP is not on the ballot where I live and I know of no one considering an effort to fix that. How many states--with how many electoral votes--does the CP have ballot access right now?

Similarly, I've seen unsubstantiated claims that the CP (or its affiliates) will have ballot access in nearly all of the states by November. What is the story? State by state, or grouping of states by description, etc., or something substantive would be appreciated.

I've read that the California affiliate is likely to nominate Keyes instead of Baldwin. Did that happen? What is the Cali story? How does that effect the number of electoral votes the CP is contesting?

Thanks.

 

[brandon]

I dont know how credible of a source the Alen Keyes forum is, but this is what you are looking for I think.

http://www.alankeyes.com/discuss/showthread.php?t=751

 

[Shotdown1027]

Bradley,

Im a delegate to the CPNC from Louisiana, and i'v got some info on this subject.

By all reasonable estimates, the CP will be on in 40 states. New York, Illinois, Arizona, Texas, and North Carolina being the obvious states we WONT be on.
California will not put Keyes on the ballot, it has become PAINFULLY obvious that Baldwin has overwhelming support amongst the AIP-CA.

However, we COULD be on the ballot in all 50 states if people rallied behind Chuck Baldwin.

I'll also say this: Its doubtful that the LP will be on 50 or 49 states this year. The big what-to-do over the platform and anarchist-minarchist debate is boiling to the top. Texas has threatened to give their ballot access to someone else if the Radicals win the platform/candidate fight. No one is contesting that the LP has better ballot-access,because they've been around 24 years longer than the CP. But the CP doesnt have as much baggage, it has a more appropriate (and less harmful) name, and it has the right candidate: Chuck Baldwin.

www.chuckbaldwinforum.com

 

[Bradley in DC]

Thanks. Still some questions, but that's the best I've seen.

 

[NewFederalist]

According to the May 1st issue of Ballot Access News www.ballot-access.org the CP is confirmed on the ballot in 19 states (unless the AIP in CA pulls out) and is awaiting confirmation in 3 others where ballot drives are completed. They are in court along with the LP and GP in TN and have not missed any deadlines so far. It is difficult to see them making the ballot in AZ, IL, IN, GA, MD, NC, OK and TX due to high signature requirements.

 

[Bradley in DC]

According to the May 1st issue of Ballot Access News www.ballot-access.org the CP is confirmed on the ballot in 19 states (unless the AIP in CA pulls out) and is awaiting confirmation in 3 others where ballot drives are completed. They are in court along with the LP and GP in TN and have not missed any deadlines so far. It is difficult to see them making the ballot in AZ, IL, IN, GA, MD, NC, OK and TX due to high signature requirements.

And they're not contesting in DC, correct?

 

[NewFederalist]

And they're not contesting in DC, correct?

No one can start petitioning in DC yet. At this point only the Ds, Rs and Greens have ballot status.

 

[Shotdown1027]

You cant start collecting petitions in DC yet, but i wouldnt expect them to be on the ballot there.

40+ states is not bad at all,though,and in 5-6 of those we'll have write-in status. Texas, New York, Arizona, and Illinois being the main ones with write-in status.

 

[Bradley in DC]

No one can start petitioning in DC yet. At this point only the Ds, Rs and Greens have ballot status.

Ok, DC is weird, but we have major and minor party recognitions. However, if one wants to register, say Libertarian, it goes into a generic "minor party" registration (if I remember that right and it's still the same).

But no, I don't see the CP getting on the ballot here and know of no one even trying.

Updates on any other "states"?

 

[NewFederalist]

Ok, DC is weird, but we have major and minor party recognitions. However, if one wants to register, say Libertarian, it goes into a generic "minor party" registration (if I remember that right and it's still the same).

But no, I don't see the CP getting on the ballot here and know of no one even trying.

Updates on any other "states"?

CP ballot status confirmed for at least the national ticket: (subject to maverick state affiliates nominating Alan Keyes or someone else) AK, AR, CA, CO, DE, FL, HA, ID, MI, MS, MT, NE, NV, ND, OR, SC, SD, UT and VT. Awaiting certification in MO, NM and OH. In court in TN. Ballot drives in progress in IL, KY, LA, PA, TX, WV and WY. The signature requirement in DC is approximately 3900 to qualify an independent candidate and signatures are due by August 19 but I don't know when petitioning can begin.

 

[yongrel]

I dont know how credible of a source the Alen Keyes forum is, but this is what you are looking for I think.

http://www.alankeyes.com/discuss/showthread.php?t=751

That is one scary forum. And I thought we were a bunch of nutjobs.

 

[Bradley in DC]

CP ballot status confirmed for at least the national ticket: (subject to maverick state affiliates nominating Alan Keyes or someone else) AK, AR, CA, CO, DE, FL, HA, ID, MI, MS, MT, NE, NV, ND, OR, SC, SD, UT and VT. Awaiting certification in MO, NM and OH. In court in TN. Ballot drives in progress in IL, KY, LA, PA, TX, WV and WY. The signature requirement in DC is approximately 3900 to qualify an independent candidate and signatures are due by August 19 but I don't know when petitioning can begin.

Thanks. Has anyone done the math on Electoral College votes?

(ballot petitioning in DC is very difficult)

 

[NewFederalist]

Unless the AIP in CA pulls the rug from under the CP national ticket, I believe the Baldwin/Castle ticket will appear on the ballot in enough states to theoretically win an Electoral College majority. With a little boost from the Ron Paul Revolutionaries they could appear on the ballot in 45 states plus DC and perhaps more. Without help, I would guess perhaps 40 states. Richard Winger, the author of Ballot Access News, is the real expert. www.ballot-access.org

 

[Bradley in DC]

Unless the AIP in CA pulls the rug from under the CP national ticket, I believe the Baldwin/Castle ticket will appear on the ballot in enough states to theoretically win an Electoral College majority. With a little boost from the Ron Paul Revolutionaries they could appear on the ballot in 45 states plus DC and perhaps more. Without help, I would guess perhaps 40 states. Richard Winger, the author of Ballot Access News, is the real expert. www.ballot-access.org

Yes, I'm a big fan of the site and post its articles here a lot. Unless the Huckabee people organize for the CP, there isn't a viable scenario for DC (can't speak about the situation anywhere else).

 

[DrAmy31415]

That is one scary forum. And I thought we were a bunch of nutjobs.

The frightening thing is, we are.

 

[libertythor]

The Libertarian Party has the best shot at being on all 50 state ballots.

In 2000 the LP candidate was on all 50 state ballots. In 2004, Michael Badnarik was on 49. Oklahoma was the only state missing.

 

[torchbearer]

On the minor party, major party thing... an interesting fact in Louisiana.
The Libertarian Party is considered a "Major" party because we have had statewide candidates that have garnered over 10%.
The CP isn't recognized in Louisiana at all... and what is sad... all that is require to be recognized as a minor party is 1000 registrants, $1000 dollars, and a candidate in a state wide race once every 4 years.

Getting on the ballot in Louisiana is even easier. Drop down around $300 and you are on.
Party status gives you the privilege of having your party affiliation listed on the ballot.
The CP candidate will be listed in a discarded corner of the louisiana ballot with "No Party Affiliation" by their name.

Also- on the party requirements. The reason we have such easy requirements is because the LALP was strong enough to lobby our state legislators to change them.

Now connect the dots to the fact that all our Ron Paul meet-ups were headed up by my fellow LP central committee members in 2007 and you can see why they fear us joining the GOP in mass.

The CP getting on the ballot in 40 states would be impressive, but i don't see it happening. It takes money, and all 3rd parties are waiting for scraps from Ron Paul right now.

 

[libertythor]

The Libertarian Party is considered a "Major" party because we have had statewide candidates that have garnered over 10%.
The CP isn't recognized in Louisiana at all... and what is sad... all that is require to be recognized as a minor party is 1000 registrants, $1000 dollars, and a candidate in a state wide race once every 4 years.

The LP is considered a Major Party in a few other states as well....I beleive Arizona, Massachusetts, and Washington.


Overall the LP has a stronger organization than the CP and has been proven influential in its lobbying efforts in Congress and with Supreme Court cases. Moreover, the LP consistently runs more congressional candidates by far than any other "third party". In 2000, a majority of congressional districts had LP candidates.

 

[Shotdown1027]

The CP isn't recognized in Louisiana at all... and what is sad... all that is require to be recognized as a minor party is 1000 registrants, $1000 dollars, and a candidate in a state wide race once every 4 years.

The CP of Louisiana IS recognized, but it only organized 6 months ago. Ballot access will easily be attained by November. The only reason we havent been on the ballot thus far is because of a series of subversive "leaders" who wanted to have a Dinner-party,rather than a Political-party.

Getting on the ballot in Louisiana is even easier. Drop down around $300 and you are on.
Party status gives you the privilege of having your party affiliation listed on the ballot.
The CP candidate will be listed in a discarded corner of the louisiana ballot with "No Party Affiliation" by their name.

Not neccesarily true. Of the three candidates that have run in the last 12 months, 2 were listed as "CST", because I personally lobbied the secretary of state and County offices to list them as such. The other, John Watts from your district, was listed as "Other". Keep in mind that the CP is 12 years old,and only 6 months old in LA. The LP is 35 years old and I expect at least 10 years old in LA.
To put this in perspective, consider who the LP's former Vice-chairman (before you, Brent) was: Jeffrey Diket. Mr. Diket recently joined our party because he saw it as more electorally viable.

Now connect the dots to the fact that all our Ron Paul meet-ups were headed up by my fellow LP central committee members in 2007 and you can see why they fear us joining the GOP in mass.

The LP Central Committee members hardly ran the show here in Louisiana. The State coordinator, Andrew Axsom, is a member of the CP. Chris Hand, the District 6 organizer, is a supporter and is backing Baldwin. Only you and Mr. Monteleone,that I can see, are LPers. I led the 275 member "LSU for Ron Paul" student group,which was larger than ANY meetup group in LA--and im a member of the CP also.
Brent--im willing to debate which party is stronger on the issues, but dont obfuscate. The LP is obviously stronger,there is no need to make things up.

 

[Shotdown1027]

The fact is this: The Constitution Party is a third-party people might concievably vote for. The Libertarian Party is known for running transvestite candidates in rural-conservative Kansas, or fielding Blue-skinned Colloidial-silver drinkers for Senate in Idaho, or even Chief Wanna Dubie for Governor of Missouri!

After 35 years, the LP has a reputation of just being the "pot smokers party" with the general populace.