Comments on: United Citizens Party Nominates Barack Obama for President

By: Brad Smith

Brad Smith — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:47:29 +0000

My mentor and former UCP co-chair Mike Avey, I feel, wuld be most unhappy with the UCP on this. I mean, Barak Obama, seriously! It is as bad as McCain, what happened to the UCP. 2000-Nader 2004-Brown 2008-Obama? From socialist to Democrat! That is fucked up where are Brett and Anna, are you guys in on this!

By: Obama Chris

Obama Chris — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:34:46 +0000

I think all states should allow fusion.

By: David Gaines

David Gaines — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:22:13 +0000

Looks like Nader/Gonzalez will have to start from scratch and find its own ballot line in SC.

By: Tom Yager

Tom Yager — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:48:58 +0000

I’m guessing that Obama will get the WFP nod. If Labor won’t run candidates, and the Greens will nominate their own, will Nader be able to find a ballot line or will he have to petition his way on?

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:46:31 +0000

The Labor Party says it won’t run any candidates in South Carolina this year, but that it will in 2010.

A party needs 10,000 signatures to get on the ballot in South Carolina, but once it does that, it can stay on as long as it runs at least one candidate every 4 years. That is one magnet for parties to qualify in South Carolina.

Another magnet, is that South Carolina permits unrestricted fusion. That is why the Working Families Party qualified there.

By: Scott West

Scott West — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:40:59 +0000

Incidentally the chairman of the ballot-qualified Independence Party, who is a city councilman in Greer, recently endorsed Obama. The party itself has yet to make an endorsement, but backed Nader in 2004.

If I’m not mistaken, the UCP nominated Lenora Fulani in 1988. I believe it was known as the Patriot Party for a time in the 1990′s, and so also co-nominated Perot, at least in 1996. In 2000, the party nominated Nader for president. At that time there was no Green Party affiliate in SC, and some Greens worked in the UCP.

There are many small progressive parties with ballot access in SC:

United Citizens Party
Green Party
Labor Party
Working Families Party

SC is the only state in which the LP has ballot access, though they’ve never used it. I think the WFP cross-endorsed some Democratic congressional candidates challenging safe Republican seats in 2006. Its strange that a state with such a small progressive movement and the second lowest unionization ratein the US should have 4 progressive parties and two labor parties.

Anyone know why this is the case?