Dean supporters gather over 10,000 signatures

[Hep]

to put Dean on the NC primary ballot. The only other candidate who must use a petition drive to gain ballot access is John Kerry. There is no evidence that he has begun collecting signatures.

If NC decides not to have a primary, going for a caucus instead, it is possible that Kerry will be able to buy his way onto the ballot.

Either way, this is reflexive of the differences between how the different campaigns work.

80.4 of the signatures collected for Dean at this point were verified, a great rate. We beat this thing by a couple thousand sigs. Makes one wonder how Edwards had so much trouble finding 1000 people to put him on the RI ballot.

[bicentennial_baby]

1. Is that 80.4%?

Just checking! Good news for y'all, Congrats!

[Hep]

2. Yeah, sorry!

80.4%!

[maddezmom]

3. when is the primary?

or is it going to be a caucus?

[Hep]

4. Depends

The primary would be May 4, but the caucus would be April 17. They decide what to do on February 9 or 10.

But this situation in NC is why Dean is the only answer for beating Bush. It has to do with our party, and the need for us to take it back. Literally. Something no other candidate is proposing.

[dad]

5. question

Do we have to be registered D to vote in this one?

[Hep]

6. Depends again

You can be I or D to vote in the primary, but you have to be D to vote in the caucus.

In MY opinion, you shouldn't be allowed to vote in any primary if you aren't registered to the party. My state party disagrees. FOr now. When I take my party back, that'll change!

[dad]

7. .

I used to be D, but changed to Green because I was disgusted by the A. Gore/Lieberman ticket in 2000... and all our spineless dems voting for thewar and patriot act ...

[Hep]

8. No prob here

If you're Green, I can dig it. It means you care enough to support the party that suits you. I's piss me off because they spend more time complaining than fixing things.

I do implore you to switch to D though, because the more active D's we have on the actual LEFT, the better we can make the D party. It's work, and it's hard, but it's important.

[NNN0LHI]

10. If more people voted for Gore there would be no war or Patriot Act

Bet you never even considered that. Did you? Thats right. If fewer greens had not voted for Bush using Ralph as their proxy we might not be in the mess we find ourselves in today.

Don

[On the Road]

9. How Will the Decision be Made?

Sounds like if a primary keeps the front-runner off the ballot, there will be a lot of pressure to have a caucus.

[Hep]

12. The primary won't keep the front runner off the ballot

the lack of support in NC will keep him off the ballot. Dean supporters managed to get the signatures needed. It shouldn't be hard for the front runner. Except the front runner hasn't inspired people to go out and do it for him.

The Dean campaign had NOTHING to do with our signature gathering. It was all a volunteer effort. 100%.

That said, the Democratic party chairs at the state level will decide based on the status of a lawsuit filed by republicans challenging the 2001 redistricting, which apparently didn't benefit republicans ENOUGH, even though they sued in 2001 and got lines redrawn to standards they liked. Sometimes it's never enough.

[joshcryer]

14. You guys are awesome.

I'm really impressed with you guys. You are the true spirit of democracy in this country.

[joshcryer]

11. DAMN. The Dean people have their act together.

HOLY DAMN.

If what you said is true about Kerry, then he has absolutely no reason to try to get a primary to occur. He clearly does better with caucuses.

[Hep]

13. Perhaps, except wanting a caucus means rooting for the right wing

But when you think about it, Kerry's got no qualms siding with the right wing if it serves him politically, so...

[Hep]

15. Kick

n/t