Anthony Pollina, Progressive Party candidate for Governor of Vermont, will hold a press conference today at noon. The speculation is that he may end his gubernatorial bid and become a candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Vermont elects the two offices separately. Further speculation is that if he does switch to the Lieutenant Governor’s race, Pollina will receive the backing of the state’s Democratic Party leadership.
The Progressive Party of Vermont is perhaps the most successful third party on the state level anywhere in America. It has elected numerous state legislators and, arguably, a U.S. congressman and senator, independent Bernie Sanders. Below is the press release from the Pollina campaign:
Pollina To Make Campaign Announcement.
Press Conference: Thursday, May 29th at 12:30 p.m.
Church Street, Burlington (outside City Hall).Anthony Pollina will address the media and supporters to disucss the status of his 2008 campaign.
Since May 4th Anthony has visited 29 Vermont communities assessing support for his campaign and engaging citizens in a discussion about their priorities.
During that time a Democratic candidate has also entered the race for Governor, raising for some, questions about the dynamics of the campaing and Pollina’s next steps. Anthony will respond to these questions Thursday.
UPDATE: According to Ballot Access News, Anthony Pollina will continue his quest for the Vermont governorship. Thanks to Fred Church Ortiz.
9 responses so far ↓
1 LPiberty // May 29, 2008 at 11:09 am
Is it wrong to cheer on the success of other smaller parties?
What issues would the Governor be presenting?
2 Deran // May 29, 2008 at 12:05 pm
The VtPP is not unlike the Working Families Party; they claim to be a political party that exists separately from the Democrats. But this whole incident shows differently. When the Democrats bark they jump!
3 MattSwartz // May 29, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Deran,
I have zero firsthand experience with the VPP or with the left in general, so I can’t say anything with certainty, but this article suggests that the VPP is capable of standing up to the VT democrats from time to time.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080526_vermont_leads_the_way_for_progressives/
4 Fred Church Ortiz // May 29, 2008 at 1:17 pm
BAN says Pollina’s still in it.
LPiberty: I don’t think so. We’re all fighting the same fight and against the same enemy, even if for dramatically different reasons.
5 G.E. // May 29, 2008 at 1:23 pm
The Vermont Progressives are pseudo-socialists, but they seem to be decentralists as well. They stick to their own state. If the constitutional republic were restored, Vermont would be free to pursue all the socialism it wanted without interference from the feds.
Also, it’s important to note that the left-leaning Vermont has long had THE MOST libertarian gun laws in the United States.
6 G.E. // May 29, 2008 at 1:23 pm
… and what I mean by that is there are NO gun laws.
7 MattSwartz // May 29, 2008 at 1:30 pm
GE,
Leaving aside the obvious ethical considerations (like the fact that it involves stealing) for a moment, I think the two worst things about socialism are a) the way it impedes market progress and productivity and b) the way it strengthens and centralizes the power of the political class.
I say that only because the decentralism is interesting in that it appears to solve the latter problem.
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