(CNN) - Newt Gingrich’s plan to wage a write-in campaign for Virginia’s GOP presidential primary may be dead on arrival. Virginia state law specifically prohibits voters from writing in candidates not on the ballot in primary elections.
On Saturday, Gingrich’s campaign said it would attempt to persuade voters to write in the former House speaker’s name after the Republican Party of Virginia rejected the candidate’s petitions to appear on the primary ballot.
“We will work with the Republican Party of Virginia to pursue an aggressive write-in campaign to make sure that all the voters of Virginia are able to vote for the candidate of their choice," Gingrich's campaign director, Michael Krull, said in a written statement.
However, a section of Virginia state law dealing with elections specifically bars voters from writing in candidates in primary elections.
“At all elections except primary elections it shall be lawful for any voter to vote for any person other than the listed candidates for the office by writing or hand printing the person's name on the official ballot,” the law says.
When asked for comment, Gingrich's press secretary, R.C. Hammond, said the campaign "is currently in the process of evaluating what the options are."
Carl Tobias, a professor of law at the University of Richmond, said Saturday that Gingrich's options could include a legal challenge.
"He could try and challenge it in court," Tobias said of the write-in law, which was put in place in the 1950s and updated in the 1970s.
Tobias was skeptical, however, that a judge would be willing to entertain the challenge.
"Elections are so sacrosanct," he said.
Ultimately, Tobias said, Gingrich's failure to gather the required number of signatures came down to a ground game, and the ability to reach registered voters in Virginia's rural congressional districts.
"It speaks to organization, and people who are successful have ground organizations, or a longer-running organization, like (former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt) Romney or (Rep. Ron) Paul," Tobias said.
From CNN Politics
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Anyone who has run for president as many times as Mittens already knows this. Maybe Newt will remember in 2016.
Too bad Grinch, you should have paid more attention to detail. This just shows you are not Presidential material.
This should help the man of many Mittens lock up the nomination for the ship of fools. It looks like Rove and the Kochs have won another, along with the help of suppression of votes.
Great leadership! Can't even manage to get on the ballot. Even Obama can manage that.
“We will work with the Republican Party of Virginia to pursue an aggressive write-in campaign." Hilarious.
Gingrich has no familiarity whatsoever with Virginia election laws. He sounds so uninformed. Six candidates made it on the ballot last cycle
Can't build a competent organization capable of meeting the clearly-stated requirement to qualify for the Virginia primary, then vows to pursue a course of action without first checking that it is feasible/legal.
Further evidence that Gingrinch would make an excellent President. The man exudes executive competence and mastery of the facts. He's the intellectual standard-bearer of the GOP.
Well I always said this was all about selling more books and hiking his speaking fees. Now it's time to shut down and go home Newt. You have been exposed as a phony when you can't even get on the ballot in your "HOME STATE".
Our neighbors just got together and sang one of my favorite Christmas songs, "Wingnuts roasting on an open fire, fueled by their own greed and hate,...."
Disenfranchise voters and then limit the candidates they are allowed to choose from. Welcome to the 1930's
Somehow, keeping Gingrich and Perry off the ballot list in VA because of their campaigns oversight doesn't wash with Liberal Democrats demanding voting rights for people that can't produce a simple photo-I.D. American Politics are becoming a bigger and bigger charade every day!
After reading Doug's delusional diatribe, I am convinced that right wingnuts are on drugs.
"Virginia state law specifically prohibits voters from writing in candidates not on the ballot in primary elections."
Wow, those freedom-loving Virginians! Then again, the Confederate capital was is Richmond ...
I guess Romney wins VA without a single vote cast.
lol, this is way to funny, its just Romney and Paul on the ballot in VA. What will the late nite comedy shows do without the wonderful material these candidates give them.
Newt ...trying to break the law again. Newt's plan i'll do what I want when I want it and who cares about anyone else. you don't see Huntsman trying to break the law. Newt forgets that the voter did decide , they said you can't get 10000 votes in Virgina to be put on the ballot. I think the voters of Virgina has been loud and clear.
I dont like Newt Gingrinch, but this is the United States for pete's sake...how can the GOP establishment thugs in Virginia or any other state deny any candidate from putting their names on the ballot?...............they are basically denying GOP/Teabbaging voters their right to vote for any candidate of their choice....their voting rights & free speech is being violated and the GOP lemmings/news media are applauding this as good news!!!
GOP/Teabaggers like chanting free speech and wanting to take "their country" back but they can't even challenge this voter disenfranchisement? Is this Iran or Syria?.....Com'on GOP Teanuts? where are your ball$$$ now????
book tour , Greek cruise spending to much time doing K street work......oops I guess he forgot he was running for President.
Tooo funny – he lives outside DC -– in VIRGINIA -– he just doesn't believe laws apply to him.
King Newt didn't make it in his own home state in spite of all the folks trying to force a republican win by eliminating blacks and poor whites from voting.
The newt and Perry want to lead the United States, but cannot get 10,000 signatures when they have had months to prepare?
Not sure if it was ineptness or just lack of interest.
But in either case, those are not attributes I want in ANY public official, let alone the President!
You know, I'm not a Gingrich fan but I think there's something a little wrong with that law...
C'mon, gang, every state has certain minimum requirements for getting on the ballot. The object is to keep every loony and their brother from signing up on a whim. The requirement was always there and any competent national campaign manager would know it. Newt didn't want to listen to anybody but himself and Perry knew about it but forgot. Write-in ballots are legal in VA on the election, just not in the primaries. These two blew it and have no one but themselves to blame.
In my opinion yet another example of arrogance from Newt thinking the laws don’t apply to him.
Gingrich and Perry are running incompetent campaigns. If they can't manage to get on a ballot, how could they actually govern? Both need to go home and be done.
So, this unorganized and now obviously illiterate chump, is supposed to be THE smart one in the GOP?
With these intellectual standards, soon a #2 pencil will be the "new young gun" of the GOP!
"Virginia state law specifically prohibits voters from writing in candidates not on the ballot in primary elections."
I'm sure the ACLU will get involved in this as this law clearly disenfranchises the voters of Virginia. Or are civil rights only applicable to Democrats?
I'm not as concerned about write in votes, but we sure better check every primary voter's photo ID. You know, to avoid voter fraud.
How interesting.......his self centered , arrogant ways finally caught up with him.....As was said...if he was as smart as he thinks he is....he would have known about that law!!!!!! "That's a gotcha"!!!
I am picking myself off the floor from laughing soo hard. These guys spent so much time bashing the President they could not get their own stuff in order.
As they say in Seinfeld – No Vote For You For One election.
Hey, guess what, Newt? There is no crying in politics!
The people have spoken! They don't want Gingrich OR Perry!
Wire Palladin
I think that it is glue that Doug is into, from his last post it is clear that some brain cells have recieved serious damage.
Newt should know better as a very long term politician he has made himself look like a foll once again, Perry we know forgets many things but Newt should know better
“At all elections except primary elections it shall be lawful for any voter to vote for any person other than the listed candidates for the office by writing or hand printing the person's name on the official ballot,” the law says."
I'll ask the same question I asked with the laws requiring state or federal issued photo ID. Why? Is there a legitimate need?
The problem with laws requiring photo ID is that they never demonstrated a need. There is no evidence that people are committing the type of election fraud this would catch. Even the states that make the laws admit there is nothing to back them up. And since it does have a high chance of disefranchising legitimate legal voters just because they don't have a photo ID, something that is 20% more likely with CITIZEN minorities, it is simply not worth it.
Well, ask the same question here. Why? Why is it legal to vote via write-in in every single election EXCEPT primaries? Is there a legitimate need not to allow it in primaries? What does it ethically accomplish? If nothing, then why have that kind of law on the books?
I technically do not have a horse in this race since I will be voting for Obama, but this simply looks too much like voter suppression to ignore. Whether liberal or conservative, this issue should ignore party lines. It doesn't matter which side will be helped by it (or which candidate in which side as in this case), voter suppression should be prevented whereever possible.
Otherwise, why bother having a democracy?
EPIC FAIL.
Ron Paul please
No problem. I "wrote off" Newt decades ago. Writing him in now would do no good.
Wire Paladin is the illegitimate son of Mitt Romney and is upset that he has to live on Government food stamps! Merry Christmas Wire, maybe we can find you a job working for the Romney campaign next year!
I think Newt was planning on being anointed Emeror for Life by popular acclamation.
This is what happens when a book tour suddenly becomes a viable campaign. Newt never expected to put any effort in to it because he never expected to do well. It was all about selling books and videos. Every campaign stop was a book signing or a video screening. He got caught. If it had ever been a serious campaign effort the signatures would have been gathered ages ago. The last minute effort is a reflection that he never expected to do well. Instead of gathering signatures, he was the one putting signatures on his book at every stop. So maybe he deserves to lose and go back to his book tour. I want a candidate who wants to win, who can win, who will win. Newt can't.
This is the same neanderthal that would have judges arrested if he did not agree with their ruling.
Poor Nooter Pooter. How does voter suppression taste??
The "Big Thinker", "The Ideals Guy"....however, he is not "The Punctual Guy!"
“We will work with the Republican Party of Virginia to pursue an aggressive write-in campaign to make sure that all the voters of Virginia are able to vote for the candidate of their choice..." Why is there a slight smell of skunk in that comment. Wouldn't that be the height of favoritism and fear. To achieve an exception that would fly in the face of all that "integrity".
Lost ballot in Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, close to lose in NH. Toast!
They can't even run a primary. How could they run a nation?
So how did a political insider like Gingrich NOT know he couldn't have a write-in campaign in the state where he lives? What's he doing, running a dumb and dumber contest with Perry?
I love it. This is Presidential Primary 101 and Newt got a big fat "F". For a guy who thinks he is so smart he isn't showing them today. Plus, he shows a complete lack of knowledge about Virginia election laws by not knowing that you can't write-in names on thew primary ballot. Way to go Newt. Are you sure you live in this state?
Merry CHRISTmas! May God bless you all!
Gingrich never intended to become the president. It was and always will be his book sales. Amazing what people will buy with their hard earned money.
This is what happens to people like gingrich, who fall in love with the sound of their own voice, hearing the clatter of their verbiage as the applause of the masses, while neglecting the day to day infrastructure work that real progress is dependent upon. Nice job bonehead.
It's amazing how many republicans are for clearly written black and white rules...except when they get caught not following them. Then they expect everyone will make exceptions for them. Is this what they mean by American exceptionalism?
Somehow Newt will blame this on Obama.
I have an idea – Newt can hire the same people who committed vote fraud in Florida and helped Bush win.
Hey Keith in Austin... VA not allowing write in candidates for PARTY PRIMARIES (since 1950) has nothing to do with the GOP's attempts to disenfranchise voters in GENERAL ELECTIONS.
Id like to write in sheriff JOE! Lets go back 50 years. Say zero americans were killed by illegal hispanic invaders 1960~1970. If they killed 1 american per day per state since then which is highly likely thats 720 000 americans murdered. Not to mention the rapes robberies and assaults.California alone has 500 people shot PER WEEK! We had a rash of hit and run homicides here in denver recently i saw a policeman on the news say denver alone has 400 hit and runs PER WEEK! and those are just the ones with leads they can follow up on. If americans had any idea of the mayhem carried out in our cities we'd be out in the streets!
Not only have illegal invaders slit the throats of the working man they are responsible for 75% of the crime here in denver radioreference dot com monitor police and ems frequencies for yourself they must have killed 720 000Americans in the last 50 years look at lapd online all most wanted 95% spanic. I knew newt was the s samich. I dont care if an illegal sailed with washington , REMOVE THEM! The states want the laws ENFORCED PERIOD! Theyll bankrupt EVERY STATE! LOOK AT CALIFORNIA FOR GOD SAKE! Mehico is a cultural catastrophe and our govt has helped them spread their societal ills across our great nation. We would have the highest standard of living on earth if it wasnt for the constant stranglehold on our economy due to the invasion and occupation of our soverign land. Look noone wants to break up families just be sure to get them all on the same bus with the anchor offspring seated up front. What about all the american families torn apart by the federal invasion policy in effect. The
Gingrich need to quit being a screw up he had his 1st campaign staff quit lock stock and barrel now He doesn't even know when he suppose to get the 10,000 signatures so he can get on the ballot even in his state of Virginia what I thought he was from Georgia what a loser
What about all the areas of our country where the standard of living is govt aid, where the american society has been utterly destroyed and unrecognizable. We once had the greatest nation on earth, now in so many places all we have is "the streets" depressed mehican varios or barrios as they are so proud to say. My once quiet street is now a mexexpressway . The clovis were here long before any mehicans or indians ever existed and they were WHITE. I say deport them all every single one of them, if theyve married americans send them along. Its time to go home and fix their rathole country and stop sucking us dry and preying on innocent americans!
Still got my vote Mr Cain. Herman my man, my main man,the "hermanator" got the nwo scared to death . The man will allow the states to enforce the dadgum law against mehicos invasion of our lives! That would ruin everything for the nwo. Illegals must have murdered at least 720 000 americans in the last 50 years. Cant you hear their blood scream for justice from their graves? Our american brothers and sisters victims of federal ethnic cleansing! Sometimes at night i can hear a car horn stuck on as if in an accident,then another and another and so on when one goes silent the tune is carried on by others till they fill the night with the constant blare,the horrific ane sickening symphony of americans getting wiped out by illegal "hispanic" drivers, theyre wiping out entire families daily
If there were not so many wanting to be on the ballot the more realistic candidates would have less trouble getting the required votes to be on the ballot!?
having said that too many rules and laws nd worse still in what is a national election topic not subject to one simple set of federal laws
Regards,
Hodgson.
I guess it will be a merry christmas after all.
IThis shows how great Gingrich campaign enterprise is running which will replicate his GOP presdential run and how he will govern this great land....but we must not be quick to forget how he run public offices before!
Newt Gingrich Is good at Breaking rules. He all so a Crook and a Cheat and He LIE a lot. Va. better off that He Is off the Ballot.
Keith -
Two entirely separate issues, but as usual, why let reality and facts get in the way of any type of idiocy that pours out of your pie-hole? Merry Christmas, moron.
"The Eye of Newt" is on course to screw up the Republican Party. All of this is being done to increase his speaking fees and to sell more books. When a clown isn't well enough organized to get on the Primary Ballot in his home state you know he will screw up this nation if given the chance as President.
newt should join cain, due to scandal