CQ TODAY PRINT EDITION
Dec. 7, 2007 – 12:46 p.m.
Paul Sets Sights on Conquering District’s Ballot Threshold
By Emily Cadei, CQ Staff
Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul may be able to raise record amounts of money online, but his dark-horse campaign is struggling to muster the 300 signatures he needs to get on the primary ballot in the District of Columbia.
In an e-mail message to supporters earlier this week, the Texas congressman wrote that his campaign had only 106 signatures. Calling the situation urgent, he beseeched local backers “to work together for one final push” before the Dec. 11 deadline set by the Paul campaign. The Washington D.C. official deadline for receiving signatures is Dec. 14.
His plea for help seemed a bit strange for a campaign that has startled the political establishment with its rabid band of supporters and tremendous online fundraising success. In one 24-hour period last month, the Paul campaign raised more than $4 million over the Internet.
But raising money and making headway in early primary states may prove to be an easier challenge than finding enough supportive Republicans in the liberal Democratic stronghold of the District.
According to a September survey by the District’s Board of Elections and Ethics, only 7.7 percent of the city’s voters are registered Republicans.
Still, the Paul campaign is brimming with can-do optimism. “We expect to have no problem,” said Darla Maloney, Paul’s D.C. ballot access coordinator.
The ballot campaign, Maloney said Thursday evening, is now up to 178 signatures and counting.
Comments
Are there 300 constitutionalists in DC? Go Ron Paul.
I figured this reporter girl was a fake. I love how the media, wants to discredit us. Even though Ron will be on the ballot in DC shortly. It also goes to show that she has the deadline wrong too. The deadline is later than the 11th but she only checked once source. I don't call this reporting, I call it spin. Thanks a lot.
You must remember, a vast number of Paul supporters are those who have not been involved before, or not for years. When was the last time we had only one small-government man speaking, and that person wasn't a Republican frontrunner? They often don't know how the primary system works. It is easy to believe they wouldn't realize they needed to collect signatures to get his name on the ballot.
How on earth can this be? are there NO Ron Paul meetup groups in DC?. My heart sunk at reading this...I need more info. say it ain't so! Can I fly 300 of me friends to DC. to sign this stupid thang? Don't worry Doc. we gonna fixx this
Just for the record, Ron Paul voted against DC's interests in getting full House voting rights and also said during a recent debate that he does not support equal representation for the 600,000 federal tax payers who live in DC. That even 106 of you still want to give him your vote when he won't give you his is remarkable...but I guess that's what it means to be a true libertarian.
DAWN OF THE AMERICAN REFORMATION, AND END OF THE ERA OF THE UGLY AMERICAN This Ron Paul Libertarian rebellion is an escalation and re-orientation of the American Cultural War, by the American People, against the rising governmental tyranny by Neo-Con Republicans and Neo-Lib Democrats. It is sweeping across America like a wildfire - ignited by the illegal and unnecessary invasion of Iraq. It raises many crucial questions, such as: Where does the American Constitution give my government the right to sacrifice precious American wealth and blood, in interests of domestic and foreign lobbies? Where does the American Constitution give my government the right to allow my nation to be invaded and permanently occupied by illegal aliens? Where does the American Constitution give my government the right to support the sacrificial killing of children, by their own mothers? Where does the American Constitution give my government the right to discriminate against traditional religious practices in public schools, universities, marriage institutions, armed forces, and governmental offices? This creeping governmental tyranny, driven by perverse special interests, has now been going on for so many decades, like the illegal alien invasion, that the impending American Reformation is regarded with fear and loathing, by those who are to lose their illicit gains. Like Gandhi, Ron Paul is drawing his intrepid volunteers from the full spectrum of humanity; and World is cheering him on to victory.
Hi Rosie , Please pardon my political ignorance. Unfortunatly I don't follow politics very closely. Usually (other than when I voted for Ronald Reagan) I go to the polls holding my nose and vote for the lesser of two evils. I only care about voting for someone who will make America better for the average citizen(freedom ,pursuit of happiness,liberty and a government that leaves me the heck alone) I've worked all my life form the age of fourteen,I'm now 49, haven't used a sick day in over 10 years.I rarely take vacation time.I believe in working hard and being payed in accordance,and I DO NOT LIKE SUPPORTING ANY ABLE PERSON WHO SITS HOME WATCHING OPERA ALL DAY. I honestly have no clue what you're writing about here. can you please educate me on these topics? Thank you, Dennis
Do Ron Paul people know how annoying they are to everyone else but themselves? Great that you are involved and slamming the GOP, but we laugh at your online rantings.
Is this a spin job or what? Rosie, we know that you are a Ron Paul Fan, so please stop giving into the dark side. Wake up Rosie, I feel the good in you, your master hasen't driven it from you fully.
Rosie, Take a Pill... Doesn't the State dept take care of DC? Oh I forgot: DC paid $16 BILLION in all TAXES and received almost $70 Billion is RETURN! Higher than ANY OTHER STATE by 400%! Maybe you should ask your local Democratic politicians where they are spending that $70 BILLION? Idiots that are so stupid... cause stupid government to take power ROSIE, so Educate yourself!
Rosie, can you show me the bill you're referring to? I think I might know what you're talking about. If it wasn't a constitutional amendment, then it wouldn't make sense to vote for it. Such things as you decide must be done properly, not by some ordinary amendment. Things must be done lawfully and constitutionally, apparently something most people in DC (legislators) don't understand.
New Yorker says: "Do Ron Paul people know how annoying they are to everyone else but themselves? Great that you are involved and slamming the GOP, but we laugh at your online rantings." Yeah, sure you believe that. That's why you are trolling Ron Paul articles to comment on. Fear will make you do funny things. I laugh at anyone who has that little of a life that they would spend their time trolling and commenting on someone who is of no interest to them. Of course your comment is of no substance, which is par for the course for Dr. Paul detractors. Why do you disagree with Dr. Paul?
One thing people reading this article need to know is what DC is filled with. Lobbyists. The last think these bloodsuckers on the American taxpayer want is a return to constitutional limits of federal power.
So where is the news that Huckabee failed to get on the ballot in Illinios. Ron Paul is on!
It is a federal town, what would one think? Of course, as usual the reporter is clueless to this.
If DC is a democratic stronghold, if should be that much easier to capture the Rep nomination there, shouldn't it?
DC is filled with people living fat off of government contracts. It is a corrupt city where everyone is either bleeding the tax payers or a gang member. Companies buying hookers for politicians, graft, corrupt bidding processes, the tax payers getting robbed blind. Ron Paul would be the death of that culture of corruption, of course they will not support him.
I think the reason that Dr. Paul is having difficulty collecting the required signatures in D.C. is obvious, if a bit obscure. You see, Dr. Paul at his core believes in individual liberty. This is reflected in his stance that complex and difficult problems should be solved locally. One blanket solution imposed on the citizens of all 50 states by one central government is not only illegal(unconstitutional), but is also immoral. However, to the residents of the District of Columbia the federal government IS the local government. The rest of us are fighting to get the central government our of our lives and hope to address issues via our state and local governments. They already have that and therefore do not have the same level of motivation. jd
I think if you got about 300 rocks of crack and took the petition around DC, you would get the signatures. It is a liberal entitlement hotbed.
regarding the question above about the deadline, we have clarified the story to reflect that the Dec. 11 date was the campaign's announced deadline, the deadline in D.C. is December 14th. Peggy Girshman Executive Editor CQ Politics
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