by Constitution Staff
Although Republican presidential nominee John McCain is making overtures to conservatives on some issues, many fear that once in office he will revert to his independent, liberal, "maverick" ways. And, while the Democrat nominee is assured of being dramatically more liberal, many resent to again having to vote for the lesser of two evils. Such conservatives face a choice of not voting, or voting for a conservative third party candidate if one emerges.
In 2000, many conservatives voted for Pat Buchanan who ran under the Reform Party banner. But, will there be such a choice in 2008? And, if there is a conservative third party nominee, will that candidate be on the ballot in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma Coalition of Independents Chair, Clark Duffe, said it would be great for Oklahoma voters to have more choices for president in 2008. "Oklahoma was the only state limited to just two choices for president in 2004," noted Duffe. According to Ballot Access News, Oklahoma has the most restrictive laws governing independent presidential candidate access to state ballots.
To be recognized as a political party and have its candidates on the ballot, Oklahoma law currently requires signatures equal to 5% of the last presidential or gubernatorial vote, which means over 73,000 signatures for the current election cycle. Once a party is on the ballot, the law requires that a party's presidential or gubernatorial candidate receive 10% of the vote to maintain party status.
In 1992, supporters of Ross Perot were successful in placing the Reform Party on the ballot, but by the time Buchanan secured the Reform Party nomination in 2000, his supporters had to gather signatures to regain ballot status. Likewise, the Libertarian Party has had ballot status several times in the past, but was dropped after the party's candidate failed to achieve the required 10% vote.
To be on the ballot in Oklahoma in 2008, a third party presidential candidate will likely have to be listed as an independent which requires the candidate to collect nearly 30,000 valid signatures by July15th. That is no small task, but more attainable than getting the party on the ballot.
In April, former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr announced that he is seeking the Libertarian Party nomination for President. Barr served in Congress as a Republican from 1995 to 2003 and is currently on the board of directors of the NRA. He has been a vocal opponent of the Patriot Act, viewing it as an infringement on the civil liberties of Americans. But, some of his past conservative views as a congressman could put him at odds with some in the Libertarian Party. For example, he had a pro-life voting record and has been against legalizing drugs.
"We are happy to have Bob Barr join the race. If he is our party's nominee, we hope we can support him as an independent candidate in Oklahoma," said Angelia O'Dell, Chair of the Libertarian Party of Oklahoma.
Barr's prime competition could be former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel who dropped out of the race for the Democratic Party nomination. Gravel has announced he is leaving the Democratic Party and is seeking the Libertarian nomination. However, Gravel's views on socialized health care and other "big government" programs place him odds with much of the Libertarian Party's platform. A host of lesser known candidates are also running for the Libertarian nomination. The Libertarian Party candidate was on the ballot in 48 states (excluding Oklahoma and New Hampshire) in 2004. The Libertarian presidential nominee will be chosen at the Party's National Convention in Denver, which begins on May 22nd.
Conservatives have another opportunity for a third party choice with Alan Keyes who has decided to leave the Republican Party to join the Constitution Party and seek their nomination. Keyes ran for the Republican nomination in 1996 and 2000, and again this year.
Keyes is a solid conservative and served as an ambassador to the UN and assistant Secretary of State in the Reagan administration. He was the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in Illinois when Barack Obama was elected.
The Constitution Party was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers Party in 1992 and changed its name to the Constitution Party in 1999. The Constitution Party candidate was on the ballot in 36 states in 2004. It is reported that the party ranks third nationally amongst all United States political parties in registered voters, with 366,937 registered members as of November 2006.
The Constitution Party advocates conservative platform which which reflects the original intent of the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution Party will choose its Presidential nominee April 23 - 26th at their National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.
Several liberal presidential candidates are expected to be on the ballot, although probably not in Oklahoma. Consumer activist Ralph Nader, who previously ran under the Green Party banner, is making the race this year as an Independent. Former Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, is expected to be the Green Party nominee.
