Libertarian Party Launches Petition Drive
By John Greiner/Capitol Bureau, The Oklahoman ~ The Oklahoma Libertarian Party will launch a petition drive today to get former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr on the Oklahoma election ballot as an independent candidate for president.
Barr will need at least 43,913 valid signatures of Oklahoma registered voters to get on the state election ballot, said Angelia O'Dell, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Oklahoma.
The signatures must be submitted to the state Election Board by July 15, she said. During Sunday's national Libertarian Party convention in Denver, Barr was nominated as the party's presidential candidate.
The Libertarian Party is not recognized in Oklahoma so Barr would need to run as an independent candidate.
"Bob Barr's independent candidacy will allow Oklahoma voters a real choice this November,” O'Dell said. "Even though our state's antiquated ballot laws kept our party off the ballot this year, we expect Barr's conservative message of limited government and personal responsibility will resonate with Oklahomans.”
Barr was in Oklahoma in October for a fundraising event for Oklahomans for Ballot Access Reform.
The access reform group was trying to circulate an initiative petition for a statewide vote in order to change state law to make it easier for third political parties, such as the Libertarian Party, to gain recognition in Oklahoma.
The petition drive later was dropped.
As a Republican, Barr was the U.S. House manager of President Clinton's impeachment trial.
When he was in Oklahoma, Barr said he left the Republican Party because he reached the conclusion the party was no longer interested in its constitutional roots.
Barr will need at least 43,913 valid signatures of Oklahoma registered voters to get on the state election ballot, said Angelia O'Dell, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Oklahoma.
The signatures must be submitted to the state Election Board by July 15, she said. During Sunday's national Libertarian Party convention in Denver, Barr was nominated as the party's presidential candidate.
The Libertarian Party is not recognized in Oklahoma so Barr would need to run as an independent candidate.
"Bob Barr's independent candidacy will allow Oklahoma voters a real choice this November,” O'Dell said. "Even though our state's antiquated ballot laws kept our party off the ballot this year, we expect Barr's conservative message of limited government and personal responsibility will resonate with Oklahomans.”
Barr was in Oklahoma in October for a fundraising event for Oklahomans for Ballot Access Reform.
The access reform group was trying to circulate an initiative petition for a statewide vote in order to change state law to make it easier for third political parties, such as the Libertarian Party, to gain recognition in Oklahoma.
The petition drive later was dropped.
As a Republican, Barr was the U.S. House manager of President Clinton's impeachment trial.
When he was in Oklahoma, Barr said he left the Republican Party because he reached the conclusion the party was no longer interested in its constitutional roots.
Labels: 2008 Presidential Race, Bob Barr, Libertarian Party
posted by Mike McCarville @ 9:30 AM
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