Fellow Hoosier blogger Thomas Cook from Blue Indiana may have an effect on the presidential election. In Indiana a presidential candidate has to get 500 signatures from each congressional district to qualify for the ballot. Thomas did some quick checking and noticed that McCain is 9 signatures short in one district. Republican Governor Mitch Daniels is the chair for McCain's campaign in Indiana.
From a source in the Democratic National Committee:
As astonishing as the McCain campaign’s incompetence may be, the audacity of its response is even worse. In order to avoid a major embarrassment, the McCain campaign did what Republicans typically do when confronted with their incompetence: they called in their cronies.
Despite the fact that the McCain campaign clearly failed to qualify for the ballot, Republican Attorney General Steve Carter and Republican Secretary of State Todd Rokita (who recently endorsed McCain) rubberstamped it anyway, trying to sneak McCain onto the ballot.
Thomas has filed a complaint with the Indiana Election Commission to challenge McCain's spot on the ballot. If he's successful, McCain won't be on the primary ballot on May 6.
Ron Paul asks you to keep your fingers crossed.
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He should be removed from the ballot if he didn't fulfill the requirements, but it makes me cringe to think that Huckabee will no doubt win the primary.
Definitely a no-win situation.
mike | February 21, 2008 12:06 AM
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OK, look, I would not vote for McCain on a bet, however, it would make Indiana look STUPID not to have him on the ballot. He has already gotten the nomination and, I might add, deserves it. Considering the voter fraud that got Kennedy elected in Chicago in 1960 and "Doubleya" elected in 2000 in Florida during the real election rather than the primaries this is small potatoes indeed. A clerical error of nine signatures? Reminds me of when I ran for class president and some ass signed "Alfred E. Neuman."
Also giving the delegates to the religious right would be a crime.
Robert Ganshorn | February 21, 2008 1:59 AM
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I disagree, Robert. It would make McCain look stupid - not Indiana. Indiana would be simply following state law. If McCain's people were dumb enough to turn in 491 signatures instead of 500, well, that should show America how good of a manager he is (and Mitch Daniels too!)
Let's be clear though - Thomas will most likely fail in his quest. The Republican Sec of State is already saying "Signatures are still trickling in." So you know they'll -shocker- find 9 more signatures that were sitting in a courthouse somewhere in northern Indiana and "boy are we sorry they didn't get sent originally, but they're here now!"
As far as I'm concerned, there was a hard deadline. He missed it. The Republicans have been threatening to hold up Jill Long Thompson's spot on the ballot if she didn't have the required number of signatures. She got 'em. McCain didn't.
Bil Browning | February 21, 2008 7:27 AM
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I think this is hilarious. I was hoping you were referring to the general election, but in the primary it's still funny.
I'm not so sure Indiana would go for Huck. It has a strange libertarian streak, and I wouldn't be too surprised if it went for Paul if McCain were kicked off the ballot.
Alex Blaze | February 21, 2008 7:31 AM
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Actually, I don't think Paul made the cut; I don't think they had enough signatures. I'm not sure about Huckabee either. I haven't seen anything about either of them and usually they tout in the local paper that so-and-so has made the ballot. Maybe there won't be any Republican to choose from? That would be fucking hilarious.
Bil Browning | February 21, 2008 8:26 AM
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Oh - I have my own tag.
Sexy.
Thomas | February 21, 2008 8:34 AM
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Ehh, they will give a free pass on the law in this case. I think it was 2000 or 2004 both main parties missed the filing deadline for Electoral College candidates and the state made an exception. Which goes to show that not only is Indiana the state with some of the worst ballot access laws in the country, but they are selectively enforced to keep the status quo.
CBrachyrhynchos | February 21, 2008 10:34 AM
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Dont glout to much there is the State Conventon ask the Rev Mike how many delegates he won in La zip nada McCain won the state conventon hence the bulk of the delegates. If the governor can wing it im sure he will be on the ballot so enjoy this is but a mere fumble of the ball.
Cathy | February 21, 2008 11:28 AM
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