"NH Closes Doors to Indie Candidates"

[in_cog_ni_to]

NH Closes Doors to Indie Candidates
By HOLLY RAMER, Associated Press Writer

59 minutes ago

CONCORD, N.H. - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's decision to drop his party affiliation makes him ineligible to compete in the New Hampshire primary, which is open to independent voters but not independent candidates.

Bloomberg, a lifelong Democrat before switching to the GOP before his 2001 mayoral run, said his latest change in voter registration does not mean he is running for president. But if he does, he won't be able to get on the first-in-the-nation primary ballot without reregistering with a party.

Under state law, only candidates who are registered Republicans or Democrats can run in the primary. Party affiliation is not a voting requirement, however, and independents are expected to vote in large numbers. Voters unaffiliated with either party make up 44 percent of the state's registered voters, a greater percentage than either Republicans or Democrats.

Bloomberg's supporters have said that if he launches an independent bid, he will wait until after the early primary process has produced clear front-runners before deciding if his candidacy has a shot.<snip>

http://www.comcast.net/news/politics/index.jsp?cat=POLITICS&fn=/2007/06/27/700865.html

[Mabus]

1. That's a problem for third party candidates

and, personally, I don't think it's good for our political system.

[TwilightGardener]

2. I don't think it matters--he doesn't need to be in the primaries.

[AndreaCG]

3. Good!

It means Nadir won't be able to run either.

[SharonRB]

4. That was my first thought, too.

Good.

[Toasterlad]

5. Doesn't Anyone Else Think It's a Problem...

...that almost half the state is independent, but they refuse to let independent candidates compete? Seems FLAGRANTLY...undemocratic. :crazy:

[Perky]

6. I don't thisnk this is a problem

An Independent does not need to run in either the Dem or GOP primary as that would make the a Democrat or a Republican.