The primary process and why we shouldn't give up [View All]

[rodbailey]

I've just been looking at the primary process for presidential delegates, on a state-by-state basis. I don't know what the rules are in each state with respect to: does the person have to be a declared candidate (in NY as we understood it, no, we could still try to petition to get Gore's name on the ballot); how much does it cost (again, in NY, I don't recall that there was any serious filing fee, but some states have a rather substantial filing fee); how many names, and what is the time frame for collecting these names to place a name on the primary ballot. That being said, when you look at the national scene, everything is focused on "super Tuesday" - Feb. 5, because lots of states have their primaries on that date. However, of the total of a little over 3500 pledged delegates that will go to the convention in Denver, over 800 will be selected in states that vote later and have filing deadlines to put a name on the primary ballot in January or later. That's almost 1/4 of the pledged delegates will come from states where there might still be a possibility to put Gore's name on the ballot. There are also, by agreement, I guess, about 800 delegates that go as "unpledged" delegates. The total number of delegates is just over 4300. So, if you or a friend live in any of the following states, get to work and see what's required to get a name on the primary ballot: Indiana, Kentucky, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. This time, don't let the algore.org or draftgore.com people stop you. This is your election, not some web-master who gets a secret message from some un-named source "close" to Gore. If the man really doesn't want to run, let him say that and then we'll all go away. (See earlier posts about how the efforts in NY, CA, and MA got stopped.) His comments today on the CNN interview certainly left the door ajar and, it almost sounded like it was ready to swing open. Let's give it a push.