On July 13, a Reuters/Ipsos poll was released for the U.S. Senate race in Florida. Independent candidate Charlie Crist has 35%; Republican Marco Rubio 28%; Democrat Kendrick Meek 17%. See this story.
The Florida primary has not been held yet, and it is possible the Democratic nominee will be Jeff Greene, not Kendrick Meek. But when the poll asks the same question, only assuming Greene is the Democratic nominee, Crist still has 35%.
It seems obvious that if Florida had a public funding law like Connecticut’s, which was applicable to U.S. Senate, the results would be different. Requiring Crist to submit a petition of 20% of the last vote cast in Florida, as a condition of receiving public funding, and also requiring him to collect qualifying contributions, while at the same time relieving Rubio of the need to collect any signatures, would create a huge imbalance in funds available to each candidate.
This is encouraging. I’m not philosophically in tune with Charlie Crist, but if he wins as an Independent, I can overlook this. For he will be the 3rd Independent U.S. Senator currently serving. It’s sad we can’t get about 50 more Independents elected in 2010.
If Florida wanted to make things equal, they would adopt the Top 2 Open Primary.
Require a modest number of signatures and a filing fee and put the candidates on the ballot.
Florida already has equal rules for all candidates. That is why Crist is on the ballot as an independent so easily. He needed no petition.
Thanks, Richard for explaining in simple words how easy it was for Charlie Crist to get on the November General Election ballot in Florida as an Independent candidate.
He simply paid a filing fee.
I sometimes think some of your commenters are still living in the 1800’s or the early 1900’s with their constant talk about legislation advocating for lowering petition signature requirements. They seem to have this idea the only way for an Independent or 3rd party candidate to get on the ballot is by petition.
Why don’t they start demanding legislation giving such candidates the option between petition signatures and filing fees? Why can’t they make “filing fee” a part of their mindset?
Sometimes I just want to throw up my hands!!
#3 Crist is running as an independent because he didn’t want to face Rubio in the Republican primary. And only one of Greene and Meek may advance from the Democratic primary. That surely is not equal.
In an open primary, Crist, Rubio, Greene, and Meek would all appear on the same ballot.
The petition requirement in California, beginning in January 2011 is quite modest. I’m sure you are aware of that, but An Alabama Independent is apparently unaware of this.
This could be a case where adversity has actually helped the reform candidate (and backfired on the establishment). By having to obtain so many signatures and qualifying contributions in order to receive public funding, Charlie Crist may have made a serious connection to more voters than he otherwise would have.
In 1976, we (supporters of Eugene J. McCarthy’s independent campaign for president) were hoping that that sort of situation (lots of adversity bringing positive results) would come about for the McCarthy ’76 campaign. It did not work out for us but Charlie Crist has the advantage of being a popular (sitting) governor of his state and his effort is taking place in just that one state too.
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