[Previous entry: "wmd ruse"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "What Did Gandhi Do?"]

04/27/2003 Archived Entry: "bush write-in"

BUSH MAY HAVE TO BE A WRITE-IN: The Washington Post reports that the late Republican National Convention means that President Bush will be renominated after the deadlines for certifying presidential candidates has passed in several states. This means that Bush could end up being a write-in candidate in Alabama, California, West Virigina and the District of Columbia. Alabama and West Virginia are two states Bush carried last time. California is the biggest state in the nation with 54 electoral votes; a recent poll found Bush beating a generic Democrat there 45 percent to 40 percent.

This item raises just two questions:

1. Might vindictive Democrats, who control all three state legislatures and the D.C. city council, decide not to change their deadlines in order to keep the president's name from appearing on the ballot? In 2000, Bush could not have afforded to lose any of the states he carried.

2. Would really benefit the GOP to have its convention as close as possible to the second anniversary of September 11 if in the process it forces Bush to run as a write-in candidate in three states?