11 Other Candidates Also In Presidential Race
As US media devote wall-to-wall coverage to the bitter race between Barack Obama and John McCain for the White House, it's easy to forget there are 11 other candidates running for president. None of them has any chance of actually winning though, and few are likely to become household names like Democrat Obama and his Republican rival McCain locked in battle with just three months to go until the November 4 elections. Instead their ambitions are more modest, and their first hurdle is to get their names added onto the ballot in as many states as possible. It is a difficult task, requiring a grass-roots organization that many lack as well as funds, again often in short supply for candidates seeking to work outside of the traditional Democratic and Republican party behmoths. Legislation also varies from state to state. Signatures have to be collected and draconian timetables have to be adhered to. But some, such as independent consumer champion Ralph Nader and Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr, could end up being a thorn in the side for both the Illinois senator Obama and his rival from Arizona. Mere mention of Nader's name still triggers howls of fury from Democrats who blame him for Al Gore's defeat in the 2000 presidential elections, when George W. Bush won in Florida by just 537 votes.
Standing as a Green party candidate then, Nader had snapped up some 97,000 votes in the Sunshine State. Similarly Barr, a representative for southern Georgia from 1995-2003, who played a key role in the congressional impeachment of former president Bill Clinton, could siphon off votes from McCain this time round. "Barr conceivably could be to John McCain what Ralph Nader was to Al Gore in 2000: ruinous," wrote political columnist George Will in Newsweek magazine. A leading conservative voice and champion of indivdiual liberties, Barr, a former Republican, broke with the Bush administration after the Patriot Act was introduced in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Barr will appear on the ballots in at least 34 states, some of which such as northern Ohio and western Nevada are seen as key swing states this year. In Georgia, where polls give McCain only a seven-point advantage over Obama, Barr's presence could significantly muddy the vote. Barr himself faces competition from another former Republican, Chuck Baldwin, who is running as a candidate for the Constitution Party, which has an election manifesto very similar to the Libertarian's. Baldwin is standing in at least 24 states. Nader, 74, is making his fifth tilt at the White House, this time as an independent and will be running in at least 29 states, including key battleground Michigan. Nader, who is of Lebanese origin, could win significant support among the large Arab-American community in the northern state, and according to some polls could even take some 25 percent of their vote.
"You have in Ralph Nader's candidacy a genuine Arab-American who has a lot of notoriety and publicity. It would be detrimental to Obama's candidacy," said Morley Winograd, former chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party. The Green Party has chosen as its candidate African-American former Democratic congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who will be on the ballot in 24 states. Her presence could handicap Obama by slicing into his support among women and pacifists against the Iraq war. "Obama cannot take the peace vote for granted. There are peace candidates running from across the political spectrum," said Kevin Zeese, executive director of Voters for Peace. "On the right are Bob Barr and Chuck Baldwin. On the left are Cynthia McKinney and Ralph Nader. He needs to earn the vote of Americans opposed to further war." At least three of the others who have thrown their hats into the ring are standing under a Socialist ticket, including Gloria La Riva who is the candidate for a pro-Castro party defending the interests of Cuba. There is also a former sports agent standing for the conservative Boston Tea Party, as well as pastor Gene Amondson who won't be quaffing any champagne on election night. He is the candidate for the temperance Prohibition Party.
Standing as a Green party candidate then, Nader had snapped up some 97,000 votes in the Sunshine State. Similarly Barr, a representative for southern Georgia from 1995-2003, who played a key role in the congressional impeachment of former president Bill Clinton, could siphon off votes from McCain this time round. "Barr conceivably could be to John McCain what Ralph Nader was to Al Gore in 2000: ruinous," wrote political columnist George Will in Newsweek magazine. A leading conservative voice and champion of indivdiual liberties, Barr, a former Republican, broke with the Bush administration after the Patriot Act was introduced in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Barr will appear on the ballots in at least 34 states, some of which such as northern Ohio and western Nevada are seen as key swing states this year. In Georgia, where polls give McCain only a seven-point advantage over Obama, Barr's presence could significantly muddy the vote. Barr himself faces competition from another former Republican, Chuck Baldwin, who is running as a candidate for the Constitution Party, which has an election manifesto very similar to the Libertarian's. Baldwin is standing in at least 24 states. Nader, 74, is making his fifth tilt at the White House, this time as an independent and will be running in at least 29 states, including key battleground Michigan. Nader, who is of Lebanese origin, could win significant support among the large Arab-American community in the northern state, and according to some polls could even take some 25 percent of their vote.
"You have in Ralph Nader's candidacy a genuine Arab-American who has a lot of notoriety and publicity. It would be detrimental to Obama's candidacy," said Morley Winograd, former chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party. The Green Party has chosen as its candidate African-American former Democratic congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who will be on the ballot in 24 states. Her presence could handicap Obama by slicing into his support among women and pacifists against the Iraq war. "Obama cannot take the peace vote for granted. There are peace candidates running from across the political spectrum," said Kevin Zeese, executive director of Voters for Peace. "On the right are Bob Barr and Chuck Baldwin. On the left are Cynthia McKinney and Ralph Nader. He needs to earn the vote of Americans opposed to further war." At least three of the others who have thrown their hats into the ring are standing under a Socialist ticket, including Gloria La Riva who is the candidate for a pro-Castro party defending the interests of Cuba. There is also a former sports agent standing for the conservative Boston Tea Party, as well as pastor Gene Amondson who won't be quaffing any champagne on election night. He is the candidate for the temperance Prohibition Party.
posted by CRUEL KEV. at Monday, August 11, 2008
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