January 4, 2008 - 10:19am
Maybe N.J. will have a second prez primary in June
By Wally Edge
Tags: Rudy Giuliani
Could New Jersey Republicans have two presidential primaries in 2008? In a very outside the box way, the answer is yes -- although not likely.
Remember, when the state GOP approved the winner-take-all primary, they agreed to wait until June to elect the delegates – who would be bound (under party rules) to vote for the winner of the February 5 New Jersey primary on the first ballot. That means party bigwigs could still get to the convention as delegates, even if they picked the wrong horse early on.
So here’s how it would play out: let’s say, hypothetically, that Rudy Giuliani wins the New Jersey primary, but drops out of the race before April. That would effectively release his delegates to vote for the candidate of their choice. But remember, the delegates have still not been elected.
Now, let’s say, its spring and the Republicans still have not picked a presidential candidate -- hypothetically, Mike Huckabee and John McCain are still battling it out. Candidates could still have another shot at winning delegates in New Jersey by running slates in the June primary.
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July 6, 2008
"I do not." -- James Laurie, an 18-year-old Brookdale Community College student, asked if he knew who Dick Zimmer was.
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Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
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Other scenario
The party picked delegates lose the June primary to another slate. The law requires the elected delegates to vote for the winner of the primary (unless that person is no longer in the race), but doesn't guarantee that the primary winner picks the delegate candidates. Remember, there is no contribution limit for races for national convention delegate. With contested primaries for U.S. Senate between two unknowns and House in two big voting primary districts, there will be lots of off the line activity.
It is Two Primaries...
Wally is on to something, although I think it is likely, not unlikely.
I have been saying this since I learned about the winner-take-all rule for Feb. 5 and the process of not selecting delegates until June. Both are shams to ensure that the same old crowd gets to attend the convention as delegates. I have attended three GOP conventions (but not as a delegate or alternate) -- it's largely the same people (or type of people) who get to be delegates. We should have been able to run slates pledged to different candidates to elect district by district in February. Of course, this would have ensured a more open process with many more people potentially eligible to attend the convetion as a delegate or alternate - so we couldn't let that happen.
At this rate, I'll be 75 before I'll be able to attend as a delegate!
February 5
Could very well be a taxpayer-funded straw poll.
George Ajjan