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Ron Paul qualifies as write-in candidate
October 29th, 2008, 11:06 am · 15 Comments · posted by Martin Wisckol, Politics reporter
Ron Paul’s many fervid supporters - as well as voters who are simply unhappy with either of the major-party nominees - can rest assured that votes cast in California for the Republican iconoclast will be counted. Paul is one of four write-in candidates to qualify in the presidential race.
“People want to send a message,” said Libertarian Gail Lightfoot, Paul’s vice presidential running mate in California. “I’m not going to vote for the lesser of two evils. I believe in justice and freedom, and I want to vote for what I believe in.”
Lightfoot, a San Luis Obisbo resident who is visiting family in Anaheim right now, said she got herself and Paul qualified as write-ins in response to many Paul supporters who said they would be writing his name on the ballot regardless of his status. She said the process was pretty simple - she just had to get signatures from 55 Paul backers who were registered to vote in the state.
The other three write-in candidates are pretty interesting too.
Besides John McCain and Barack Obama, the statewide ballot features the printed names of candidates from the Libertarian, Green, American Independent, and Peace and Freedom parties. Orange County’s own Wiley Drake is the v.p. candidate for the American Independent Party, running with Alan Keyes.
And if that’s not enough for you…
Jeff Chuck Baldwin is the conservative Constitution Party’s write-in candidate. The Constitution Party’s California wing is known as the American Independent Party - but the AIP was particularly independent this year, and picked their own candidates.
James Harris lists himself as running in the Socialist Workers campaign.
Frank Moore, who wants among other things immediate withdrawal from Iraq and free public transit for all, calls his party the Just Makes Sense Party.
Lightfoot, of course, is turning her back on her own party’s candidate, Bob Barr, but said she wanted to make sure Paul-ites’ votes were counted.
“I may get more votes as Ron Paul’s running mate than I did as a Libertarian candidate,” said Lightfoot, who has run for U.S. Senate. “And a lot of Libertarians are going to be upset with me.”
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DENA BUNIS, Washington bureau chief, 202-628-6381 or dbunis@ocregister.com
CHRIS KNAP, Politics team leader, 714-796-2240 or cknap@ocregister.com
BRIAN JOSEPH, Sacramento correspondent, 916-449-6046 or bjoseph@ocregister.com
JENNIFER MUIR, County government reporter, 714-796-7813 or jmuir@ocregister.com
MARTIN WISCKOL, Politics reporter, 714-285-2867 or mwisckol@ocregister.com twitter.com/MartinWisckol
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Has Ron Paul agreed to this? Have you verified this with the California Secretary of State? Did Ron Paul file a “Statement of Write-In Candidacy for President of the United States”?
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/wi_pres_nov.htm
1. The statement of write-in candidacy must be completed by the presidential write-in candidate and shall contain the following information:
a. candidate’s name,
b. residence address,
c. a declaration stating that the candidate is a write-in candidate,
d. the name of the office for which the candidate is running, and
e. the date of the election.
In addition, we request that you provide us with a telephone number to reach the presidential candidate and an address to which correspondence regarding the write-in candidacy may be addressed so that we can expedite communications.
Never mind. I just found this (still don’t know if Ron Paul signed it though):
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/election_2008/certified_list_of_candidates_writeins.pdf
The section you quoted is dated 2000. That requirement was dropped from the current CA elections law.
Wow! You can sign someone up to be a write in candidate AGAINST their will?!
He’s got MY Vote!
I feel obligated to vote for him for all the people in other states who cannot.
California is a “solid” Democratic/Obama state, McCain doesn’t stand a chance here… So any vote for McCain is “wasted” anyway.
Vote for Ron Paul and send a real message to the RNC!!!
Yes, please all you Obama supporters, write in Ron Paul.
“Jeff Baldwin is the conservative Constitution Party’s write-in candidate. The Constitution Party’s California wing is known as the American Independent Party - but the AIP was particularly independent this year, and picked their own candidates…”
Jeff Baldwin?!
ATTENTION: Mr Martin Wisckol
The candidate’s correct name for the Constitution Party is:
CHUCK BALDWIN
Please correct your typo…
http://www.baldwin08.com/
Well, I see that Gail Lightfoot has gotten a VP nomination after all. She came in dead last in the LP race for the VP nomination, so she has nominated herself as Paul’s VP with the help of 54 other poor souls who thought they were supporting Ron Paul.
I wonder if Paul even knows who is “running mate” is in California.
Wouldn’t that be a hoot! Ron Paul winning California…
That would be a hoot (and 55 less Electoral Votes for Obama). Too bad I didn’t know Ron Paul had qualified before I sent in my ballot. I wonder if Paul even knows he is running in California? It seems as if he has endorsed Chuck Baldwin and is discouraging any write in efforts: “I don’t think that’s very productive.”
Chuck Baldwin’s name has been corrected. My apologies, and thanks for the head’s up.
I should have collected signatures and sent in “Hillary DIANE Clinton” with myself as VP ; )
They have my vote, whether they like it or not
We need Ron Paul for President NOW. Please read my letter to America:
http://www.JoeSixPack.me
I wish i knew he qualified. I did a little research and thought he did not. :(… Well a vote for Barr is not wasted… but it is still not a vote for who I really want, Ron Paul.