Posted on 07/21/2014 7:13:50 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
On July 7th, the Mississippi GOP Executive Committee certified the results of the June 24th primary run-off, declaring Thad Cochran the winner. Senator McDaniel has not accepted this result, and has refused to concede the election.
McDaniel volunteers have been scouring ballot boxes and poll books across Mississippis 82 counties .. when they have been allowed access. Approximately two dozen county clerks still refuse to allow the McDaniel camp to examine the records. McDaniel representatives are expressing confidence that they have a case to make, believing they can cast overwhelming doubt on the 7,600 vote margin of victory that the Cochran campaign is claiming.
Who will hear the challenge McDaniel intends to make?
Senator McDaniel gets two swings at the plate. The first opportunity is to present the evidence before Mississippis GOP Executive Committee. They have the power to weigh the evidence McDaniel has gathered, and if sufficiently convinced, call for a third election to be held. If the majority of the committee is not swayed by the material McDaniel is able to present, the challenge will be rejected, and a fractured party will head toward November with Thad Cochran as their nominee.
The second opportunity afforded McDaniel is to present his evidence before a state court in the county of his choosing. A jury will examine all the materials and evidence gathered, and has the power to order a special election, once again placing Cochran and McDaniel before the voters for a third time. If however the jury rules against Senator McDaniel, his legal options (barring appeal) under Mississippi state law will have run their course.
If both of these opportunities fail the McDaniel campaign, that would seem to be the end of the line for Chris McDaniels senate prospects this November. Those calling for him to run as an Independent are overlooking the ballot requirements in Mississippi. The filing deadline passed back in March. There is no process that could place McDaniels name on the November ballot as an Independent, or under any other partys banner at this late date. Simply stated, if neither of McDaniels two challenge opportunities prevail, there is no way under Mississippi law that his name can appear on the November ballot.
We will write him in!
Many conservatives across Mississippi are making such vows. Those making that promise fail to understand that under current law, Mississippi does not recognize write-in votes. There is no provision under Mississippi election code allowing voters to override the official nominee of the Republican party.
There is however one sole exception. Under 23-15-365 of Mississippi election code, write-ins are permissible in the event of the death, resignation, withdrawal or removal of any candidate whose name shall have been printed on the official ballot.
23-15-365 Write-in candidates
(1) There shall be left on each ballot one (1) blank space under the title of each office to be voted for, and in the event of the death, resignation, withdrawal or removal of any candidate whose name shall have been printed on the official ballot, the name of the candidate duly substituted in the place of such candidate may be written in such blank space by the voter.
The prospect of either Travis Childers [D] or Thad Cochran [R] falling to any of the circumstances that would allow a write-in candidate on either of those two ballot slots is not much to hang your hat on.
There is however another candidate who has qualified for the November ballot in Mississippi. His name is Shawn OHara and he represents the Reform Party of Mississippi. His place on the November ballot is cemented in stone. OHara, a long-time fixture in the firmament of Mississippi politics, could find himself to be the key to McDaniels re-entry into the general election.
If OHara, for whatever reason officially withdrew from contention, then all write-ins under the slot the Reform party holds on the Mississippi ballot would be legally recognized.
Obtaining a senatorial slot on any ballot is no easy accomplishment. What might persuade the holder of such a precious possession to yield his place on the ballot? For that answer we look toward the platform of the Reform party. » Fiscal Responsibility: The Reform Party supports fiscal responsibility and accountability. » Government and Ethics: The Reform Party supports legislation and rules across all branches of government that enforce the highest ethical standards and effective oversight. » National Security: The Reform Party supports policies and programs that best guarantee the security of our national borders, the safety of our citizens and the economic interests of our country. » Tax Policy: The Reform Party supports fair taxation policies without prejudice or special interest exceptions. » Constitutional Rights: The Reform Party supports the Principles established in the United States Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence as our guiding principles for the rights of our citizens and for defining the scope of our Government.
Is that platform starting to sound a bit familiar?
While there may be differences to be found within the planks of the Reform Party and that of Senator McDaniel, there is an awful lot of common ground. The Reform Party and Shawn OHara could find themselves quite comfortable with a candidate such as Chris McDaniel.
Republican leadership talks endlessly about expanding the party. Chris McDaniel did just that. He expanded the Republican parties appeal to many Mississippi voters. He announced his candidacy early, back in October of 2013. He laid out a bold vision based on principles, ethics and the constitution. A lot of Libertarians in Mississippi liked what they saw. In fact, they chose not to field a candidate for 2014, and lined up behind Chris McDaniel. Congressman Ron Paul endorsed McDaniel prior to the primary, and the Libertarian Party of Mississippi issued a strong statement questioning the integrity of the June 24th run-off, asking Are we to stand idly by while potential fraud and corruption may have denied our fellow citizens of their civil rights?
Many Reform party proponents likely hold a sentiment similar to that of Mississippis Libertarians, and could be supportive if OHara chose to step aside and offer his ballot slot to Senator McDaniel.
A recent Chism Strategies poll demonstrates that Mississippi Republicans have been torn asunder by the questionable results of the June 24 run-off. The divide has only intensified as continuing revelations of unethical Cochran/Barbour campaign tactics are exposed.
With the situation on the ground continuing to deteriorate, Shawn OHara may be the one man able to prevent Mississippi from burning. If OHara is a man of his parties planks, he may decide to step aside and offer Mississippi voters a way to put out the fire.
What did one ghost say to the other ghost? Ans: Get a Life...
I’m just as mad and angry as anyone about this...but I have to say let’s
Drop it.
This whole thing makes McDaniel look like an idiot. Sorry, I’ll get three hundred more pings cause of what I’m saying... but this is totally stupid.
Concede, be gracious, and live to fight another day. If he mounts a write in that allows the democrat in, then it will go down as the biggest, flakiest, stupidest thing our side has ever done.
PS-Don’t waste your time responding to me as I’m not going to read or respond back. Let’s move on people....
“I am very very old and health is a problem”
Sorry to hear about your health — but at least there is nothing wrong with your brain — unlike some on this board who are advocating a Democrat victory.
What has become of McDaniel’s legal challenge? Did he change his mind? (no, I didn’t read the whole article)
Disregard, I read the article.
McDaniel is screwed if he is depending on the GOPe to allow a re-vote...they are the ones who screwed him over in the first place.
GOP-E = socialism
You have tipped your hand, revealed your true colors, and exposed the whole insidious purpose that you and other fradulent dissemblers like yourself are even posting to FR.
You're busted. Get lost.
spoken like a true GOPe member.. good job, soon, you’ll sound like Obama.. oh wait..
Sorry FRiend, but a line has been drawn in the sand. If Cochrane is allowed to get away with his racist campaign attacks, GOPe will employ that playbook ad infinitum.
“...McDaniel is screwed if he is depending on the GOPe to allow a re-vote...they are the ones who screwed him over in the first place.”
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Going to the Mississippi GOPe is just a procedural step McDaniel is required to go through. I’m reasonably sure that they have ZERO expectation of victory at the corrupt GOPe level. There’s still hope; McDaniel is NOT a defeatist and I don’t expect him to become one as advised by some in this thread.
And he is certainly not a sunshine patriot who would abandon the fight and join with the corrupt statists who engineered the phony Cochran “victory”.
Is that you Jo Nosef? We cannot support Cochran and the gop in this election. The gop is getting more aggressive towards their Conservative base, I believe it’s because we suck up and support them regardless of what they do in opposition to us. I have done this for years, I’m not doing it this time. If there is a split or they lose a seat or don’t take the Senate it’s their fault. They can either unify or split the party, it’s their choice. There are some very good Conservative members of the House and Senate, We’ll be doing them no favors by giving the party more power at their expense, as the rinos grow stronger they will take away committee assignments etc. and work to replce them as they worked to keep Cochran, or his chief handler, in power.
Is that you travis childers? You really do want to get back to Washington. No, I’ll NOT vote for thad NOR will I vote for you. I’ll pick from whatever options that remain, but if I’m alive I’ll vote.
Name one thing different that would have happened if the GOP controlled the US senate after the 2012 election. Name one thing that would be any different if the GOP took the senate in 2014.
Nothing. They just like the House would have rolled or will for anything obama wanted just like the House has.
The liberals in both parties have been and continue to set the agenda and the GOPE just wants in on the scraps of $$$ from the liberal table.
If the GOPE does not take the senate they have only themselves to blame, not conservatives, after all they made it clear we are racist and kooks why would anyone want our votes???
This round-up does not mention the possibility of federal court action. Isn’t there a federal court action in process?
Why dont you and the rest of you just make some signs: CONSERVATIVES FOR DEM CONTROLLED SENATE!
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Or, better yet: “Mississippi Conservatives for Conservative Democrat, Travis Childers.” I’ve got news for you Innovative, the GOP will NOT win control of the Senate in November; I guarantee it. They have pissed off their base to the nth degree and they cannot win without their base.
Nobody here will advocate voting for the Democrat
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BULL CRAP! I’d vote for a one-eyed crack whore before I’d vote for Cochran.
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