“Republicans and Democrats make certain that third party candidates are held to ballot access laws, no matter how absurd or unreasonable,’ says Verney. ‘Therefore, Republicans and Democrats should be held to the same standards.‘” D’oh! Well, this might put a big kink in John McCain’s electoral strategy. By way of my friend Mike, it seems both the Obama and McCain campaigns might’ve missed the Texas filing deadline. “Section 192.031 of the Texas election code says that political parties must certify their presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the November ballot no later than 70 days before the general election…At 2:30 pm Texas time, August 27, Kim Kizer of the Texas Secretary of State’s elections division says neither major party’s certification has been received in the Elections Division.“
Update: Sorry, Bob. “Texas Secretary of State spokesperson Ashley Burton said that upon further checking, ‘Both parties filed before the deadline. We expect their amended filings after both parties finish their nominating process at the conventions.‘”
Okay, I’m still confused. It sounds like Texas law requires the candidates’ names 70 days before the election, but it also sounds like they’re allowed to fake it until the convention and then turn in an “amended” filing? Why bother having the law at all? How does the original filing read? “We definitely intend to put SOMEONE on the ballot. We’ll figure it out, you know, later.”
SO…..
Who screwed up in the first place…
both major parties
the secretary of state of Texas
or just
BOB?
If I had to guess, I’d wager somebody on the Barr campaign noted the deadline and made a story out of it, not realizing the two major parties have this backdoor deal where they can send in a phantom slate, with a veep to be named later.