Americans Elect

Group says online White House hopeful will make Georgia ballot

Submitted by smcgrif1 on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 11:34am
in
Name of Publication: 
Savannah Morning News/savannahnow.com
Link to Article: 
http://savannahnow.com/news/2012-04-03/group-says-online-white-house-hopeful-wil...
Excerpt of Article: 

Posted: April 3, 2012 - 12:03am 

By Larry Peterson
 
A group planning to pick a presidential candidate online says it soon will get its nominee on Georgia’s Nov. 6 ballot.

Dagney Leonard, a spokeswoman for Americans Elect, said it’s rounded up about 100,000 signatures and will submit them to the state “in the next month.”

That is well over the 51,990 the Georgia Secretary of State’s office says it needs.

Certification in Georgia would mean the Americans Elect nominee will be one of the choices in at least 22 states, including big ones such as California, Florida, Ohio and Michigan. ... ...... ...

Last fall, political experts in Georgia were skeptical about the new group’s prospects.

Now, at least some are taking a second look.

Among them is Kennesaw State University political science professor Kerwin Swint.

“Obviously, getting on the ballot across the country is a big task, but what this group has already accomplished is impressive,” Swint said. 

 

 

New group seeks to nominate presidential candidate on Internet

Submitted by smcgrif1 on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 9:54am
in
Name of Publication: 
Savannah Morning News
Link to Article: 
http://savannahnow.com/news/2011-11-27/new-group-seeks-nominate-presidential-can...
Excerpt of Article: 
Posted: November 27, 2011 - 1:12am  |  Updated: November 27, 2011 - 9:24am 
 
By Larry Peterson


 
Pick a president, not a party.

That’s the motto of a new movement working in Georgia and dozens of other states to forge a new path to the White House next year — over the Internet.

Americans Elect seeks to bypass political parties and what it says is their pandering to extremes by holding an online June 2012 convention to nominate a presidential candidate. Delegates — any registered voter who signs up online — will choose the issues and would-be candidates will be asked to respond.

“The delegates shape the debate, not the media or the parties,” said spokeswoman Dagny Leonard.

Then the delegates will choose the nominee directly: After that, it will be up to the candidate to wage — and finance — the rest of the campaign. ...  ...... 

Like other experts, Kennesaw State University political science professor Kerwin Swint doubts that it will excite most other Americans — at least in 2012.

Swint adds, however, Americans Elect has potential.

Swint cited the political successes of tea party groups and the widespread attention attracted by the Occupy Wall Street protests and their offshoots.

“There is a palpable hunger for something other than our current politics,” he said. “If the Americans Elect people keep at it, maybe they’ll succeed in a few years.

“Maybe even in 2016.” 

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