Important Update on Michigan Draft Gore Petition Drive

[SharonRB]

A meeting was held in Ann Arbor yesterday, where it was decided to proceed with the petition drive to get Gore's name on the ballot for the January 15 Michigan primary (if, in fact, we wind up participating in the primary and don't go back to the caucus plan).

If we do not get enough signatures to get Gore on the ballot, he will not be on even if he announces. We're not sure if we have enough volunteers to gather all the needed signatures, but at this point we don't have the funds to hire petitioners. If we can raise funds, we will hire petitioners to help in the effort. Checks can be made out to VOLUNTEERS TO DRAFT AL GORE FOR 2008 and sent to the address noted in the press release I have posted below.


MICHIGAN DRAFT GORE PETITION DRIVE
LAUNCHED FOR JAN. 15 PRIMARY BALLOT

For Immediate Release: September 24, 2007, 9:00am

Contacts: Douglas Kelley, 734-662-1731
Bob Alexander, 517-351-0965

Supporters of former Vice President Al Gore agreed to launch a petition campaign to put his name on the January 15 Michigan Presidential Primary ballot at a meeting yesterday.

"Our initial goal is 3,000 signatures of registered Michigan voters," said Michigan Draft Gore Co-Chair Douglas Kelley. "We are well aware that under the new Michigan primary law, to put Gore's name on the primary ballot, 12,396 valid signatures must be submitted to the Secretary of State's office in Lansing by October 23. Al Gore must submit a candidate affidavit along with the petitions. We're glad that the petition campaign manager will be Co-Chair Bob Alexander, who has had plenty of experience in statewide petition campaigns."

"We are doing this out of our conviction that Al Gore is the best qualified candidate for President," stated Alexander. "We are confident Gore could win either the January 15 Michigan primary or the Michigan Democratic caucuses, in view of the Detroit News statewide poll of 400 likely Democratic voters (August 14): Gore, 36%; H. Clinton, 32%; Obama, 16%; Edwards, 8%."

"Although we already have over 50 volunteer petition circulators active throughout the state, we do not as yet have the resources to assure gathering 12,396 signatures. But we're hopeful that Al Gore may become an announced presidential candidate sometime during October, and that we'll gain the resources to greatly boost our target number. In any case, if the Michigan Democratic Party decides to opt for caucuses instead of the January 15 primary, we'll be able to urge all the Gore petition signers to take an active part in the caucuses," continued Alexander.

Doug Kelley leads the South Michigan Draft Gore group based in Washtenaw County, and was a John Kerry delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and by appointment of Governor Granholm, the roll call spokesperson for the Michigan delegation. Bob Alexander leads the Mid Michigan Draft Gore group based in Ingham County, and was the Democratic nominee for Congress in Michigan's 8th Congressional District in 2004. Both have worked on prior presidential primary efforts in New Hampshire and Kelley in Iowa.

Contributions in support of the Gore petition campaign may be mailed to
VOLUNTEERS TO DRAFT AL GORE FOR 2008,
c/o Kelleys
910 Sunset Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103

The organization was formed in 2006, and is registered with the Federal Election Commission.

Former Vice President Gore is scheduled to speak to the United Nations about ways to combat the climate crisis, today, September 24. He is among the nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize; the winner is to be announced in Oslo, Norway, October 12. Further information about Draft Al Gore for President activities throughout the country is presented on the following websites:

http://www.AmericaforGore.org
http://www.AlGore.org
http://www.DraftGore.com

[maddogesq]

1. You Go Girl

Go get it. Al is cool!

By the way, got a BS response from you know who at MDP, like I am some kind of idiot and need to know the 9th is a key race nationally. Duh.... No violation of policy, it claimed, as no other candidates have jumped in. GIVE ME A BREAK. It's only September, OK? Said official missed the point of my letter, methinks. Because I think the 9th is important (duh, again), that makes a bonafide primary important.

[SharonRB]

2. Oh, give me a break is right

[Folke_Bernadotte]

3. Are you still looking for volunteers?

Are you still looking for volunteer petition takers or have you given up on the effort to get enough signatures by the Tuesday deadline?

[SharonRB]

4. The petition drive is over

We didn't get enough signatures. If you're still interested in getting involved in the draft movement, contact Bob Alexander at [e-mail].

[GigiMommy]

5. Sorry to hear that...n/t

[SharonRB]

6. Thanks -- me, too.

It was a good effort, but we just didn't have enough time.