Hide Article Text (OCR)
Ballot I Chief says 2 hopefuls could be ‘blessing'CONTINUED FROM i PAGE 1enough signatures (3,000 or more) by July 28 to get Phillies on the ballot, the lawsuit states.Though he is listed as a plaintiff in the lawsuit, New Hampshire Libertarian Party Chairman Brendan Kelly, of Seabrook, said Friday that having two presidential candidates on the ballot could potentially help the party gain more votes overall.“Actually, it could be a blessing for us, Kelly said.Kelly said his only real concern in November is that theparty’s candidate for governor, Susan Newell and U.S. Senate candidate Ken Blevens win 4 percent of the total vote, so that the party can win official ballot listing status along with the Democrats and Republicans. That way, Kelly noted, the Libertarians won’t have to worry about fielding dueling, dual candidates. “The state doesn’t make anything easy for anybody but a Democrat or a Republican, Kelly said.New Hampshire Libertarians backed Phillies early in the process because they worried that if they waited until after the national convention, they wouldn’t have time to round up the requisite 3,000 signatures to get their party’s candidate on the state ballot, Kelly said.After Barr got the party’s nomination, however, the national Libertarian Party sent professionals to canvass the state and gather signatures, and Barr got himself on the state’s ballot Sept. 3, less than twomonths after Phillies, the lawsuit states.In the lawsuit, Barr and state party officials argue that New Hampshire should allow them to substitute Barr for Phillies, rather than list two Libertarian candidates for president on the November ballot.“Barr will be listed on the ballots of at least 48 states as the (only) Libertarian Party candidate for president. New Hampshire is the only state in which, absent judicial intervention, a second individual will also be listed on the ballot as a Libertarian Party candidate for President,” the suit states.The Libertarians argue that to list two Libertarian candidates would splinter the party, and violate the rights of party members “to associate for the advancement of political beliefs.” State law (RSA 655:46) forbids nominees from withdrawing from the ballot, however, unless they have become legally ineligible or physically incapacitated from holding office (RSA 655:38). Phillies is willing and able to run for president, he said Friday. Reached by phone, Phillies said he may try to intervene in the lawsuit and protect his place on the ballot,“I am sorry to hear that Mr. Barr is attempting to steal the nomination,” Phillies said, adding later, “I am the nominee of the Libertarian Party of NewHampshire’s convention.”“I was an active candidate, and I took significant political damage to honor what the New Hampshire convention asked me to do,” he said.
Newspaper Details
Nashua Telegraph
Nashua, New Hampshire, US
Mon, Sep 15, 2008
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 08 Jun 2021
Other Publications Near Nashua, New Hampshire
Nashua Telegraph
