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2004 US Presidential Election
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September 13, 2004
Nader | Florida OK's Nader's Name on Election Ballot

REUTERS: Florida OK’s Nader’s Name on Election Ballot

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader’s name can appear on Florida ballots for the election, despite a court order to the contrary, Florida’s elections chief told officials on Monday in a move that could help President Bush in the key swing state.

The Florida Democratic Party reacted with outrage, calling the move “blatant partisan maneuvering” by Gov. Jeb Bush, the president’s younger brother, and vowed to fight it.

In a memo to Florida’s 67 county supervisors of elections, Division of Elections director Dawn Roberts said the uncertainty of Hurricane Ivan, which could hit parts of the state by week’s end, forced her to act.

…

“I’m in disbelief,” said Scott Maddox, chairman of the Florida Democratic Party. “This is blatant partisan maneuvering on the part of Jeb Bush to give his brother a leg up on election day.”

“They are trying to get ballots printed with Nader’s name on them,” said Maddox. “I am astounded that Jeb Bush is willing to defy the judiciary to help his brother.”

(Ballots printed? I thought that this was supposed to be the year of e-voting.)



Posted by Laurence Simon at September 13, 2004 10:23 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Not much to this except for standard political manuevering and positioning. The Dems would be doing likewise were they the party in power in Florida and a conservative challenger to the Republican candidate were the issue instead of another liberal/progressive like Nader impacting the Democrats.

The Florida courts will have the final say and probably even that will be appealed until all such options have been exhausted.

Expect the Dems to put up a spirited fight no matter what… Florida’s 27 votes are the foundation for any hopes Kerry may have should the current poll numbers continue through to the election.

Posted by: steve [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 13, 2004 11:02 PM

Wait a minute. I thought Nader was running on the Reform ticket? Isn’t that the one that Pat Buchanan ran on in 2000, that “stole” so many Republican votes? In fact, didn’t the Reform ticket take more votes from “R” than the Greens did from the “D”?

Normally I’d say “let Nader run on the rules that were in effect when he stepped up,” but I think this one will be good for the entertainment value, if nothing else. Oh, the irony…

Posted by: gus3 [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2004 12:49 AM

“I am astounded that Jeb Bush is willing to defy the judiciary to help his brother.”

Especially after the Democrats used the judiciary to help their candidate. The sheer gall!

Posted by: submandave [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2004 11:59 AM

Apparently the Democrats are pro-choice only when they are the only choice. What a bunch of hypocritical whiners!

My understanding of the timing of this is that the absentee ballots have to be printed soon in order for them to be distributed to overseas military personnel in time for them to vote, and so a call had to be made before the never-ending appeals process in Florida makes its final decision. As a sticker crossing out Nader would be easier than re-printing ballots the call was made to include Nader so that those who want to vote for him would have an opportunity to do so, assuming the court’s rather ambitious decision is reversed. Some scandal.

Posted by: TL [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2004 02:46 PM

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