Goode will remain on Va. presidential ballot
Former U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode of Rocky Mount will remain on the Virginia ballot as the Constitution Party’s candidate for president after an investigation by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli found no reason to disqualify him.
Cuccinelli’s office was asked by the state board of elections to investigate irregularities in petitions Goode submitted to qualify for the ballot. The state Republican Party challenged the legitimacy of some of the Goode’s petitions and had asked the board to disqualify the former GOP congressman from the ballot. The state board of elections certified Goode for the ballot earlier this month, but asked the attorney general’s office to investigate the complaint.
Cuccinelli’s office said it is not uncommon to find irregularities in petitions containing thousands of signatures. But the investigation found nothing to prohibit Goode from being certified for the Virginia ballot, the Republican attorney general said.
“We call them like we see them,” Cuccinelli said in a news release.
Goode, a former congressman and state senator, is well known in Southwest and Southside Virginia and could be wild card in a close contest between Obama and Romney, who are fighting hard for the state’s 13 electoral votes.
– Michael Sluss
What effect might Goode have? We analyzed his potential impact more than a year ago; you can find it here.
September 21, 2012 - 12:19 PM
I see the Repubs failed again to remove a legitimate candidate from the ballot. What are they worried about?
I heard him on the radio, the poor man actually thinks that he will get some dissatisfied “Obama voters”. I think he is trying to tell himself that. Dissatisfied “Obama voters” might stay home, but they will not vote for Goode or Romney.
Count about 40000 votes that Romney won’t get.
I wish Goode would run for something he could win.