Bush May Be A Write in on More than one State Ballot (late Sept. 2 Convention-now California?)

Washington Post ^ | Sunday April 27, 2003 | Brian Faler

[ewing]

The biggest question may be California, where election officials plan to begin printing about 15 million ballots almost immediately after the August 26 deadline-and begin mailing absentee ballots Sept. 3

A spokeswoman for the Secretary of State said that she did not know of any effort to move the deadline or how the state might accommodate the Rebulicans.

'Its not clear at this point,' Terri Carbaugh said.

'It certainly poses a dilema.'

[ewing]

No way Bush will win a write in vote situation with Democrat voter fraud in California

[ewing]

Will they allow that?

[Reagan79]

can people in california write?

[ewing]

Not in the Northern part of the state..

[Doctor Stochastic]

It's the other way around this time. The Republicans want to nominate someone after the deadline has passed. It will be interesting to see if those on FR who opposed the Dems filing after the deadline (on the basis that "it's the law") will tell the GOP to support the law.

[speekinout]

I don't think this one has anything to do with the Rats. The GOP wanted a late convention so they don't have to spend campaign funds early. They also wanted a "convention boost" that would carry into the election. And they couldn't have the convention during the Olympics, so they took a chance that all of the states would change their laws.

Maybe they stretched too far, and maybe they didn't. They'll have a lot of money to spend between 9/2 and election day, so maybe if Bush is a write-in candidate in a state or two, it won't matter.
It sure won't matter in DC - he wouldn't win there if he was the only candidate on the ballot.

[deport]

Heck new parties are formed off and on...... I'd suspect one could be formed, hold a convention, select their nominee, secure the needed petition signatures and be on the ballot.... just a guess if push came to shove.

I'm sure there are plenty of ppl within the RNC and GOP looking at various options now... or they should be.

[aruanan]

'It certainly poses a dilema.'

dilemma

[jimtorr]

Perhaps its part of a plan to shorten the campaign season back down again? I'm certainly all for that.

How about a constitutional amendment stating that all federal primary elections or nominating conventions take place on the first tuesday in August, say?

[AmishDude]

It's the other way around this time. The Republicans want to nominate someone after the deadline has passed. It will be interesting to see if those on FR who opposed the Dems filing after the deadline (on the basis that "it's the law") will tell the GOP to support the law.

Difference: This is not ex post facto. The problem has been identified and the Republicans are proposing an extension of the deadline months before it becomes an issue. There is no comparison.

[ewing]

It does require some planning beforehand though..

[chiller]

It's not the same at all. It's not last minute, it's not substituting a potential winner for an apparent loser. It's state law that's the issue, and those dates are probably arbitrary anyway, since less than a week is all that's at issue. Sept. 2 puts it more than 60 days out.... they can amend it if they want to.

I doubt if Cheney is the New York link, it's an attempt to help the city.

[need_a_screen_name]

The plan seems to be to not spend a dime in California by writing off the state, and to make the Democrats look bad. What are Bush's chancing out there even with his popularity, that will surely decline by election day?

[ewing]

It will be next to impossible to win off the ballot, and harder to defend writing off the state to the national press..

[chiller]

..meant to say "Rudy for Cheney"

as noted here and elsewhere, the Dems have their shorts in a wad because they've got to spend lots of money between their August convention and the election. Bushies obviously don't. It's trouble for the Dems and I'm so sad about it.

[ewing]

And the Dims poll bounce will wane in the 'dead vacation time' between conventions (if they get one at all)

[need_a_screen_name]

It will be next to impossible to win off the ballot, and harder to defend writing off the state to the national press..

True about winning off the ballot, but if he can blame this on the Dems, then he might get some sympathy votes elsewhere in the country. Plus, he would have that much more money to spend in the rest of the states.

[Brilliant]

There is no democracy in CA. I hope Alabama and West Virginia don't play the same game.

[chiller]

Given Gov. Dufus, and the dems state budget, I'd say 'W' has a chance in California. Hate to see it wasted.

[ThreePuttinDude]

"The Republicans want to nominate someone after the deadline has passed."

Lets see, its 4-27-2003 and we're talking about something that is scheduled when??