Virgil Goode’s campaign has not really begun in earnest yet, but this article says it soon will. He spoke to a Rotary Club in Salem, Virginia, yesterday and said his campaign was on the ballot in seventeen states so far, but hopes to reach forty or more state ballots.
If Constitution Party presidential nominee Virgil Goode is going to have any hope of winning in November, he’s got to get on the ballot in as many states as possible.
As of Thursday, the former Virginia senator and 5th District congressman said he’s won ballot access in 17 states, including Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Utah and Wyoming — but not yet his home state of Virginia. Goode said he’s aiming to get on the ballot in at least 40 states. Four years ago, the Constitution Party appeared on 37 ballots in the presidential race.
“We’ve been going to some states, getting signatures and then calling around and mapping out a strategy,” Goode said. “We want to try to go to several states close together at one time rather than make a trip. It’s a lot less costly that way.”
In Virginia, he needs to secure at least 10,000 signatures from qualified voters, including at least 400 from each of the state’s 11 congressional districts. The deadline is noon Aug. 24.
“We’re working real hard in the 5th, 6th and the 9th [congressional districts] to build up our numbers there,” Goode said. “We want to get at least 600 to 800 in each district.”
I’ve been told by Constitution Party insiders that, for obvious reasons, Virginia and then Pennsylvania are the top petitioning priorities.
#12? “…Obviously Romney isnt going to lose Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Utah, and Idaho.”
Why would you say Goode has no chance in these states? I beg to differ, expecially in regard to the three southern states….
With the Democratic Party split in half in the 1860 election — Stephen Douglas in the Northern wing and and John C. Breckinridge in the Southern wing — you could say Lincoln was “basically” a third party candidate, as Goode stated. You might even consider Lincoln a fourth party candidate, with the Constitutional Union Party candidate John Bell from Tennessee in the mix. Lincoln won more votes in the electoral college than all of his opponents combined, even though his name — like Goode — was not even on the ballot in many states. Good luck, Virgil Goode!
@29, well the point is that the Republican Party started out as a third party and quickly became a major party.
I just saw Virgil Goode on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal talking about the possibility of a third-party candidate winning. Goode said that Abraham Lincoln was basically a third-party candidate in 1860. Somebody should tell Goode that, no, Lincoln wasn’t. The Republican candidate had come in 2nd in the previous presidential election in 1856, and the Republicans were the leading party in the House after the 1858 elections and the second-biggest party in the Senate after the 1858 elections.
Lincoln was the first Republican president, but going into the election year in 1860, the Republican Party was clearly one of the two leading parties in the United States.
Finished means finished collecting signatures. ND is also already certified since that was published.
Negotiating: CA means they are negotiating to get the AIP line. NY says can’t start yet.
CP can do party deadline or get Goode on as independent. Neither one is likely for NC.
Thanks Paulie!
CO, FL, ID, MI, MS, MO, NV, NM, OH, OR, SC, SD, TN, UT, WI, and WY [16]. It is obvious what “already on” means, but what about “finished?” Does that mean “closed — deadline passed” — or that the party has gathered enough signatures? And what about “negotiation”, which it notes by CA and NY? And finally, the Party deadline vs. the Indp. deadline…. I’m assuming the Constitution Party would have to abide by the “Party Deadline?” [*Ex. NC = May 16 Party Deadline and June 14 Independent]. I’m learning alot this afternoon Thanks!
If a nominee of another party wins the Americans Elect primary and the directors say no, that will have a good effect for other third parties by show everyone that AE doesn’t follow its own rules.
They wouldn’t win. A different candidate would just drop a few million into last minute advertising and major media blitz if there was any threat it would happen. Which may well happen anyway.
Me: It says in their by-laws that they would. They wouldn’t choose to break one of their own rules like that because doing so would completely discredit them.
Changing rules is something they do all the time.
In New York, the conservative party sometimes nominates the nominees of the republican party. Those votes do accrue for the candidate.
Doesn’t apply to presidential candidates, since they have different slates of electors.
Paulie: Not gonna happen. You forget who the directors are.
Me: If a nominee of another party wins the Americans Elect primary and the directors say no, that will have a good effect for other third parties by show everyone that AE doesn’t follow its own rules.
Paulie: AE is not interested in having a nominee that is listed with more than one party or chooses to forego the AE label in any states.
Me: It says in their by-laws that they would. They wouldn’t choose to break one of their own rules like that because doing so would completely discredit them.
Paulie: However, (fusion voting) also means that the votes don’t accrue, thus the candidate would be running against him or herself.
Me: In New York, the conservative party sometimes nominates the nominees of the republican party. Those votes do accrue for the candidate.
I did re-post this idea on one other thread on this website because I want people to consider this plan for securing ballot access.
Go to http://www.ballot-access.org/2012/04/30/april-2012-ballot-access-news-print-edition/ and scroll down to 2012 PETITIONING FOR PRESIDENT
As I understand it, Goode is on in CO, FL, MI, MO, OH, TN, UT, WI and WY (9) … but I think there are 8 others, and cannot find a listing? Thanks for the help from anyone who might know….
They want the AE label on in every state
“AE is not interested in having a nominee that is listed with more than one party or chooses to forego the AE label in any states.”
I thought they were okay with Buddy Roemer being listed as the Reform Party candidate in states where that party’s on the ballot?
also win the Americans Elect nomination.
Not gonna happen. You forget who the directors are.
Goode would NOT have to give up the Constitution Party, he can and should be the nominee of both parties.
AE is not interested in having a nominee that is listed with more than one party or chooses to forego the AE label in any states.
In states that have fusion voting, his name would be on the ballot twice.
Fusion voting can be done for president in any state, since it is actually slates of electors that are being elected.
However, that also means that the votes don’t accrue, thus the candidate would be running against him or herself.
This is a strategy that Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party or Jill Stein of the Green Party could also use to make sure they are and the ballot in all 50 states.
Also not happening, for the same reason.
And, none of them would be a “balanced ticket.”
The way for Goode (or any third-party candidate) to be on the ballot in all 50 states is to also win the Americans Elect nomination. Goode would NOT have to give up the Constitution Party, he can and should be the nominee of both parties. In states that have fusion voting, his name would be on the ballot twice. In states that do not have fusion voting and the Constitution Party is on the ballot, Goode would be listed as the nominee of the Constitution party. In states that don’t have fusion voting and the Constitution Party is not on the ballot, he would be listed as the Americans Elect nominee.
This is a strategy that Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party or Jill Stein of the Green Party could also use to make sure they are and the ballot in all 50 states.
Not on in IA yet. I was just there last month on two other parties and inquired into doing CP. They said they thought they would get it done with volunteers.
He’ll likely be on in Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Probably won’t make it in Indiana or NC.
# 15- He is on in Tennessee (due to a court order).
Needs over 70,000 good signatures in NC.
Also on in Wisconsin….due to 2% in 2010 election by a Senate candidate….
Can anyone tell me if Goode is already on the ballot in Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, Tennessee, West Virginia or Wisconsin? And what is the number of signatures needed for North Carolina? Thanks.
That’s the one that needs 13k valid. The one that needs 3k valid is just presidential and is also one sheet per signature.
“Virgil Goode’s campaign has not really begun in earnest yet…”
It’s going on 3 weeks after nomination (something everyone was certain he would get many weeks before the convention) – and with less than 200 days before ballots are cast – when will they get their act together? In terms of a campaign plan, I’ve seen/heard nothing specific on where Goode+Clymer are going,when, and how.
It’s definitely a shame Goode can’t get on in NC. The proximity of NC to his homestate would help, as would the recent raising of the gay marriage issue.
Like Madison, I think the target areas should be PA/VA/WV and Rocky Mountain/Midwestern states.
With that said, I think the campaign should make a specific choice to target “safe states”, not in order to “save” the Romney campaign, but in order to maximize votes. Obviously Romney isnt going to lose Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Utah, and Idaho–so we not make an effort in those states to tell conservatives to send a message and vote their conscience.
40 state ballot access would be great for Goode.
My records show Howard Phillips was on in 43 states in 2000. The important number in this game is 270 as in Electoral College Vote numbers. The closer to 400 the CP and Assns. get the more legitimate they should be taken.
Mr. Goode should do well if he can just get his message out. He is truly a constrast to Obama and Romney. Millions of Ds and Rs have abandoned their Party over the past 4 years. The CP, LP and GP need to put forth large efforts to pickup most of these disgruntled voters.
I’m still promoting a series of Debates between all candidates who qualify on enough states ballots to equal or exceed 270 EC votes. That looks like SIX this cycle. Actually give the masses SIX choices not just the usual handpicked DUOPOLY ! I hope all of you can join me in calling for inclusion of ALL candidates who have legfitimate ballot access to the 270 + !!!
@8 However, that sheet of paper can cover every election in the district: State Rep, State Senate, Governor’s Council, Congress, Senate, Governor. (May be another numerical limit here.)
Yep.
Doesn’t New Hampshire require each signature to be on a separate piece of paper, or something stupid like that? Hopefully the free-staters can fix that.
3k for independent candidate in NH, maybe 5k valid. It’s a lot harder than the numbers make it sound though.
In Indiana you guys would need well over 30,000 valid signatures due in about 6 weeks. Ralph Nadar tried many times & failed here, Virgil Goode certainly isn’t going to best Nadar at the ballot access game.
Oh, and you need over 13,000 in NH, not 5,000.
#3&4, You are quite knowledgeable.
This may be getting way ahead of the game, but once ballot access efforts are locked in (and/or finished) I would recommend that Goode/Clymer focus on two specific areas to reach voters. 1. the VA, WV, PA area (no need to comment that it’s obvious) and 2. the Rocky Mountain/Upper Great Plains states. Those areas have lower electoral votes but it’s an opportunity to get high in the polls heading into Labor Day (since the D’s and R’s aren’t likely to visit most of those states save Colorado). If they are leading or in a close second in many of those states, it will draw national attention.
NewFed,
Perhaps it’s better to aim at 40 and hit 46 or 47 (under-promise and over-deliver). With many states not having deadlines until around Aug1st, there is still time to raise money and hire petitioners. After PA and VA, states to focus on would be those with an earlier deadline. In regards to number of signatures needed versus total population, Oklahoma would be the very last priority. Sorry Sooner and Okie fans, but for the same costs the Constitution Party can pay petitioners to get on the ballot in NC or both Indiana and Illinois. Of the 13 states (plus DC) the CP did not get on in 2008, many should be more attainable like Montana (who went with Ron Paul), Calif. (who went with Alan Keyes) and NH (which requires less than 5,000 good signatures). After the prez’s big marriage announcement on Wednesday, Virgil Goode would do well in NC. Laslty, after the results of WV’s primary, Goode would also do very well in WV.
39 was the high water mark of the CP – Phillips in ’96? Trent/Red Phillips might know the exact year. 40 would be a symbolic step of progress. There are several states that come right off the list from the git go because of ridiculous threshold of petition signatures needed – TX, NC, for example. Some states have missed the deadline for submitting signatures or don’t have time, in a practical sense, to get enough names to secure ballot status.
40 states? That doesn’t seem like much of a goal to me.