Libertarian Party sues to keep Romney off the ballot in the state of Washington

[eridani]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/08/16/mitt-romney-might-not-be-on-the-washington-state-ballot-in-november/

Because the two Republicans running for the US Senate seat in 2010 weren’t officially nominated by the Republican Party, that means the Republican Party didn’t get at least 5% of the vote in a statewide election. And that, in turn, means Romney would have had to file as a minor party candidate (requiring his campaign to collect at least a thousand voter signatures at a nominating convention taking place after the first Saturday of June and the last Saturday of July.) And, it seems, Romney’s campaign did not do that.

Back when The Stranger first reported on this, no one expected that Washington’s Secretary of State would actually leave Romney’s name off of the ballot because of this technicality. But now it seems the Libertarian Party is suing (PDF) to keep Romney’s name off:

The suit seeks an order declaring that the Washington State Republican Party is “minor party” for purposes of the 2012 general election and directing the Secretary of State to issue ballots for the November election that do not contain the printed name of any Republican Party nominee.

It’s possible the Libertarian Party is just making a show of things to make Republicans sweat. But if they’re serious and if a judge rules to the letter of the law, Romney won’t be on the ballot. I have a hard time believing they wouldn’t find some sort of work-around to avoid that happening but it will be very interesting to watch over the coming months.

[hobbit709]

1. Just for the entertainment value alone.

[KansDem]

2. HA!!!

Check out the comments!:

* Didn't they get the missing signatures tomorrow retroactively in June?

* Could they get some of the recently baptised dead new-mormons to sign up? What a crack up. The mormons are quite infamous for their economic use of truth, so they'll try anything, I'm sure, to get their guy on the ticket.

* If Fox and the Republican party have shown anything in the last dozen years, they can spin anything. "It's part of Obama's Kenyan plan. He infiltrated the Libertarian party to attack Poor Mitt Romney! Then he used YOUR tax dollars to pay off that RINO secretary of state!!!" I can see Romney saying that now.



Poor Republicans -- they just can't seem to get a break!

[nxylas]

3. Payback's a bitch

For years, both Republicans and Democrats have been using the law to get third party candidates off the ballots in order to preserve their privileged position and make sure the electorate doesn't have any other choices but them. Revenge must feel so sweet.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. I'm surprised (or maybe not) that the M$M hasn't run this story.

I mean they were quick to report on AZ trying to remove President Obama from their ballot.

[JHB]

5. Mitt's a Decider, not a detail man

Shouldn't he be enjoying himself, firing the hireling who was supposed to keep track of the little things? How many has he run through since the 'Amercia' thing?

[Mr Dixon]

6. Question

Doesn't OBAMA have that state locked up anyway?

[eridani]

7. Pretty much n/t

[Blue Meany]

8. Republicans will blame the Democrats for this and use it as proof

that Dems engage in voter suppression.

[rock]

9. "because of this technicality"

I.e. the correct way to do it. According to the rules. Legally. Legitimately. The right way.

As in, "Well, sure officer, I shot him in the forehead, if you want to be technical about it!"

Typical Repukean attitude, which really burns my ass. You know what else burns my ass? A flame about three feet high!