Rubio not VP, Romney concedes Presidency to Obama

[pimptight***]

Originally Posted by PainIsLIfe

Libertarian party has never been on a ballot in VA in my 20 yrs of voting.

As I google it; it seems that Nadar (I) was on 45 states plus DC, Barr (L) was on 45, and McKinney (G) was on 21.

edit: not a CT, but in some states they would have to register as a political party to get on the ballot.

Fair enough, I got that from the libertarian party page, so maybe Americans elect is wrong too, but here is what they say:

#4 of 6 Things to Know: Americans Elect Will Have 50-State Ballot Access
The Americans Elect nominees for President and Vice President will be on the November 2012 ballot in all 50 states. That means they will be able to compete right alongside the Democratic and Republican nominees.

In the past, third-party and independent candidates have suffered a big disadvantage because they have been unable to get on the ballot in all 50 states. That is because it is a very difficult and expensive task, but one that Americans Elect is committed to accomplishing.

The rules governing which candidates and political parties can appear on the ballot vary from state to state. Most states require a certain number of voters to sign a petition in support of a particular candidate or party within a specified time period.

Ballot access rules were originally established to prevent overcrowding on the ballot. For example, if anyone could get on the ballot, voters may have to choose between hundreds of candidates for president.

But the two parties eventually began using these rules to preserve their dominance. As Americans Elect general counsel Dan Winslow told us recently, “existing ballot access laws are designed to prevent competition and to limit alternative choices.”

Americans Elect is gathering the necessary signatures and completing the legal work to secure a spot on the ballot, state by state. Read more about the signature gathering process in a recent blog interview with national field director Kellen Arno.

In the end, close to 3 million Americans will have signed a petition to enable the Americans Elect candidates to appear on the ballot in all 50 states. So when Election Day comes, you will have a third, competitive choice.

Americans Elect 2012 | #4 of 6 Things to Know: Americans Elect Will Have 50-State Ballot Access

[sqrl33]

Originally Posted by PainIsLIfe

Libertarian party has never been on a ballot in VA in my 20 yrs of voting.

As I google it; it seems that Nadar (I) was on 45 states plus DC, Barr (L) was on 45, and McKinney (G) was on 21.

edit: not a CT, but in some states they would have to register as a political party to get on the ballot.

https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.g...cial/1_s.shtml
I voted for BARR in 2008 in VIRGINIA. Maybe you have not been looking for Libertarians on the ballot.
The LP does have 50 state ballot access.
Here's the link from the 2004 election results in Virginia with the LP on the ballot:
General Election- November 2, 2004
And 2000:
Virginia General Election - November 7, 2000
and 1996: (not a great layout)
Nov 1996 Presidential Election Results
And 1992:
Geostat Center: Historical US Elections Data
Twenty years of the Libertarian Party being on the ballot in Virginia.

[Motogp69]

Originally Posted by Mordecai

I think you guys have the odds wrong. Now I know this is just my state, but I think it reflects alot. I was at the bar during the Kentucky game. (Place packed of course.) When Obama came on during the half-time show I was hearing boo's louder then the game. I think there will be an immense turn out from the Republican party no matter whom the nominee happens too be.

It's likely to be Mittens. Although the bar I was at was probably 80% white. Tho, most were Dem's. I was over hearing the table beside ours and got into a few minute political conversation with them. They happened to be Republicans. I was surprised they were going to be voting for Frothy.. >.< I of course in turn told which way may vote would go.

They LOVED Rand, but said that Ron is a good guy just too crazy for them to vote for.. (I am thinking and youre voting for Santorum? O.O) At the end of the discussion and back to the game. They concured that whomever was the nominee they would vote for. Now the Dems in attendance that were booing Obama I dunno. However, I was very surprised with the boos.

Myself.. I am still undecided on what to do. I guess I will be a last minute voter. (Barring the unlikely event Paul wins the nominee)

Anecdotal evidence means nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Turnout has been way down in the Republican primaries, GOP is getting killed with minorities and women, and some of the un-expected swing states from 2008 are still trending for Obama.

I highly recommend you read:
FiveThirtyEight: Politics Done Right

[Motogp69]

Originally Posted by steveflynn

If Romney doesn't start pulling back to the center of the political spectrum Obama's going to rout him worse than Dick Nixon did to McGovern.

Like an Etch A Sketch?

[ralphc1]

Originally Posted by lildog

You don't think that a lot of republicans were behind Cain, Trump, and Palin for a good while? They burned out b/c there is not a single potential candidate that is except able muchless excitable to the majority of republican voters would want to support enthusiastically...not rubio, jeb, christie or anyone. The party is fractured worse than the dems in 68. Theres at least three major faction within the typical rep vote...so called "libertarians", country club mitt like repubs, and the borderline psycho christian right. That cant work b/c all three believe they are right and their views at least most of them are incompatible with one another. The very nature pf both libertarians and evangelicals IS to be uncompromising. Just my two cents what say you?

Most democrats are fairly liberal and therefore willing to compromise for the good of the party and country.

Most republicans are conservative so they are unwilling to compromise on anything and are becoming more and more fractured.

[PainIsLIfe]

Originally Posted by sqrl33

https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.g...cial/1_s.shtml
I voted for BARR in 2008 in VIRGINIA. Maybe you have not been looking for Libertarians on the ballot.
The LP does have 50 state ballot access.
Here's the link from the 2004 election results in Virginia with the LP on the ballot:
General Election- November 2, 2004
And 2000:
Virginia General Election - November 7, 2000
and 1996: (not a great layout)
Nov 1996 Presidential Election Results
And 1992:
Geostat Center: Historical US Elections Data
Twenty years of the Libertarian Party being on the ballot in Virginia.

I guess I stand corrected; for some reason I thought Barr ran as the conservative party candidate and I really don't remember a 3rd party candidate on the ballot at all in '04.

For that matter, I don't remember seeing all those candidates on the ballot in '08, maybe age is just catching up to my memory.

[ShoelessRye]

Will have to look hard at Susana Martinez now. I bet Rubio gets the Keynote Address slot at the RNC convention though - especially with it in Florida.

Problem Rubio could have in four years time - he's rapidly balding, and won't be the con heartthrob having a more ridiculous comb over than Donald Trump.

Problem with Martinez, while she checks the woman and Latino boxes, she's been Gov since January 2011. And before that she was a simple DA. Also the woman and Latino dual box checking might scream gimmick. She also has said she's not interested in the VP spot as she has her own future plotted out and more than likely means re-election in 2014 and potentially VP gig in 2016.

Nv Gov Brian Sandoval was polled in Nv and hurt the Romney ticket ie Romney polled better without Sandoval on the ticket.

If I was a Republican, I wouldn't trust any advice from any Bushes. They're out to clear the field for Jeb in 2016. Tried to convince Daniels to run, trying to get Rubio to be VP, supposedly was push behind Perry. I suspect McDonnell will be the next to get the push from the Bush camp now.

If Rubio and Martinez are really out. Jeb will not go near it. Christie is probably too politically smart as well. Romney could be looking at Nikki Haley in S.Carolina or Bobby Jindal in La. Another one that might want it could be Paul Ryan - however the ticket would then have no national security or FP credentials on it. Romney trying to claim the Olympics as FP would be akin to Palin saying she could see Russia from parts of Alaska as her FP credentials.

[A Muse of Fire]

Originally Posted by ShoelessRye

If Rubio and Martinez are really out. Jeb will not go near it. Christie is probably too politically smart as well. Romney could be looking at Nikki Haley in S.Carolina or Bobby Jindal in La. Another one that might want it could be Paul Ryan - however the ticket would then have no national security or FP credentials on it. Romney trying to claim the Olympics as FP would be akin to Palin saying she could see Russia from parts of Alaska as her FP credentials.

Maybe they think foreign policy isn't important to the base or electorate at large?

I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to get Panetta or Petraeus as sec of state.

I actually don't know who the ranking republican is on the intelligence or defense committee but it could be them or another powerful congressional leader.

Gingrich seems the most likely candidate I think overall of the VP slot

[Mordecai]

Originally Posted by A Muse of Fire

Maybe they think foreign policy isn't important to the base or electorate at large?

I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to get Panetta or Petraeus as sec of state.

I actually don't know who the ranking republican is on the intelligence or defense committee but it could be them or another powerful congressional leader.

Gingrich seems the most likely candidate I think overall of the VP slot

I disagree.

Gingrich is the worst possible scenario. This guy will not draw women voters, and we are having a tiny bit of trouble with that Demographic. Gingrich is political suicide.

[Hollywood Nicky]

martinez might be legit, but i'm not sure. i don't know if you want someone without national exposure.

that seemed to be the problem with palin, she just didn't have the experience to deal with that level of focus. martinez would have to be vetted big time, because like palin, she would introduced to the national stage as the vp nom, and if the press hasn't already vetted her she's in some trouble.

i think you need someone who'd already gone through this. i don't think we will see another palin type of gamble in the near future. obama had the dem convention where he was thrust onto the national scene, so he had an advantage over palin, he had a cuple of years of exposure on that stage, palin didn't, or wouldn't have had as many problems (other than knowing nothing about politics).

martinez is a gamble, and a serious one at that... does mittens go for it? is he the chance taker mccain was?