#Politics Warning, random screed in which I invoke my Poli Sci degree and personal experience with presidential elections ...
In 1991-1992 I worked on a campaign for a fringe Democratic presidential candidate. Spoiler, he didn't win.
For all the fuss about RFK Jr., Jill Stein, Dean Phillips, etc. challenging #Biden, I wanted to point out a few basic realities.
Each of the 50 states has its own unique rules for qualifying for the ballot ... (1/x)
#Politics Not just in the primaries, but also in the general election.
If you're not part of the party's "establishment," it is really tough to qualify for the primary ballot if you don't know what you're doing. Dean Phillips is a non-issue unless he has boots on the ground already in NH, SC, the Super Tuesday states, etc.
Caucuses are even tougher, because you need to turn out people willing to go to a caucus to vote for you. If you don't have a local organization, you lose. (2/x)
#Politics In the November 2024 general election, again each state has its own rules to qualify for the ballot. That means you need to have fifty organizations figuring out how to do it, if you're not the D or R candidate.
If you're the Green candidate, e.g. Jill Stein, they know what they're doing. But RFK Jr. or someone else like Joe Manchin running as an independent? It's almost impossible unless you have a lot of money, e.g. Perot. (3/x)
@joycereynoldsward Sorry, I don't understand. 🤔
@WordsmithFL Jerry Brown.
@joycereynoldsward Ah, fringier than that!
Larry Agran was the former mayor of Irvine, CA. I did political consulting for him. He was somewhat well-known nationallly at the local level for implementing progressive initiatives that eventually led to his defeat in 1990.
George McGovern asked Larry to run his 1992 presidential campaign. We were setting up to do that when George decided to drop out. Larry decided to run himself.
Here's a highlight reel. (1/2)
@WordsmithFL Ah. I worked on Jerry Brown's Oregon campaign--the Portland office manager and volunteer coordinator.
Hoo boy did I see some *interesting* anti-Clinton people...some of the same ilk that popped up in 2016.
@joycereynoldsward We were at the DNC convention in L.A. in September 1991. The candidates were going around to various rooms speaking to the caucuses.
Most of the candidates were by themselves, or with a spouse, or an aide.
Clinton swept in with Hillary, an entourage with walkie-talkies, camcorders recording his every move, etc.
I thought, "There's the nominee. He's the only one who knows what he's doing."