McHenry County Blog

9/12/6 - It looks like the Democrats will have a 2008 presidential problem in Illinois.

The Chicago Tribune actually put everyone on the ballot in its most recent 600-person poll.

That’s as opposed to leaving one who was in disfavor off its poll ballot, as the Tribune did for this spring’s Republican primary election. Then, Andy Martin was not included until he sued the paper.

One bit of real news that Democratic activists will not appreciate is that Green Party candidate Rich Whitney is getting 6% of the vote with another 15% undecided.

“…and another 1% for another unidentified candidate.”

That unidentified candidate could, of course, have been identified by the Tribune.

His name is Randy Stufflebeam and his candidacy is a write-in one. Pretty impressive for a write-in.

The front page Tribune graphic ignores the Green Party’s strength. That would have given Whitney too much prominence.

But getting over 5% of the vote means that a party becomes “established.” That, in turn, means that its candidates don’t have to get 25,000 signatures to get on the ballot.

3-5,000 will do quite nicely, thank you.

So, expect a Green Party presidential candidate on the Illinois ballot in 2008.

Not a word about that in the Tribune, however.

Disaffected Republicans might even help make that a reality by voting for Whitney.

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