The American Independent Party, which is the Constitution Party’s affilliate in California, will be holding its state convention soon. As many third-party aficionados know, the AIP-CA is currently in the middle of a struggle over who to nominate as it’s presidential candidate, Alan Keyes or Chuck Baldwin. Richard Winger, over at Ballot-Access News has the scoop.
The original date of the state convention of the American Independent Party of California was to have been June 6. However, the state chair cancelled that event. Since he had not set a new date, a majority of the other state officers have chosen June 28-29, at the Westin Hotel at the Los Angeles Airport.
The state convention will choose the party’s candidates for presidential elector. Thus, the state convention has the power to decide which presidential candidate, Chuck Baldwin or Alan Keyes, will be listed on the November ballot. Currently, it seems extremely likely that the June state convention will choose presidential elector candidates pledged to Baldwin, who is the Constitution Party’s presidential nominee.
At least three other sources have confirmed this story to me, including detailed numbers on how many people will be backing Keyes and Baldwin, respectively. It is likely Baldwin will be on the ballot.
10 responses so far ↓
1 Fred Church Ortiz // Jun 5, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Trent: did you find out if anything came of Noonan’s committee appointment scheme?
2 Trent Hill // Jun 5, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Fred,
My understanding is that Noonan is now apathetic about it all–only one officer is backing the manuevers and doesn’t even really have the support of the chairman. However, I suspect they’ll appoint a few Keyes supporters. But the two major counties where the AIP is organized best, are controlled by loyal CPers and Baldwin supporters.
3 Peter Orvetti // Jun 5, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Is Keyes on any state ballots yet, or within range of any?
4 Trent Hill // Jun 5, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Peter,
Not to my knowledge–no.
5 G.E. // Jun 5, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Maybe Keyes should seek the BTP nomination.
Does he support the 14th amendment?
Oh yeah. He’s a Lincolnian, so I guess he does.
6 profg // Jun 6, 2008 at 10:12 am
He’ll probably make it on the ballot, at least in Colorado, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Louisiana; maybe also Washington, Arkansas, Iowa, Utah, Mississippi, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Some of even those states, however, have “sore loser” laws that don’t allow a person who was a candidate in the primaries to run for the same office as an independent. In those states, he’d probably have to go through procedures to qualify for write-in status.
7 MattSwartz // Jun 6, 2008 at 12:10 pm
But the two major counties where the AIP is organized best, are controlled by loyal CPers and Baldwin supporters.
Trent, you’ve made me curious: what are the AIP’s two strongest counties?
8 Trent Hill // Jun 6, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Matt–ill get back to you on that. I believe one of them is Santa Clara.
9 Trent Hill // Jun 6, 2008 at 2:09 pm
No its not. Los Angeles County and Orange County.
Orange County, especially, is well organized and is where most of the action happens these days.
10 MattSwartz // Jun 6, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I’m intrigued that Orange County is one of the big counties, but I guess it makes sense, since that was a high-density area for the JBS at one time and they probably educated tons of voters.
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