NY Official: Dem primary to include most delegate slates

[Freddie Stubbs]

ALBANY -- Almost all delegate slates for New York's March 2 Democratic presidential primary will be on the ballot, including those that came up short of required signatures, a state Board of Elections official said Monday.

"I think in the interest of ballot access that we'll probably leave them on unless there is some really egregious amount (short)," said board spokesman Lee Daghlian. "Obviously, if it requires 800 (signatures) and you've got just 20, it's not close enough."

Failing such dramatic shortages, Daghlian said he expects the state board to allow the delegate slates on the ballot. The board will make the final decision Jan. 26 when it certifies the New York primary ballot.

A review last week by The Associated Press found some candidates, including former Gen. Wesley Clark, Sen. John Kerry, Rep. Richard Gephardt and Al Sharpton, filed petitions for delegate slates that appeared to contain an insufficient number of signatures from Democratic voters to qualify for the primary ballot. Campaigns are required to certify the documents contain the required signatures.

more: http://www.theithacajournal.com/news/stories/20040113/localnews/214770.html