Virginia Primary Ballot Challenge: Judge Rules Against Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum & Jon Huntsman

RICHMOND, Va. -- A federal judge has refused to add Texas Gov. Rick Perry and three other candidates to Virginia's Republican presidential primary ballot.

U.S. District Judge John Gibney ruled Friday that the candidates should have challenged Virginia's primary qualifying rules earlier. Gibney said they knew the rules months ago.

Perry sued last month after failing to submit enough signatures to get on the ballot. Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Jon Huntsman also failed to qualify and later joined Perry's lawsuit. They asked Gibney to declare Virginia's law unconstitutional and add their names to the March 6 ballot.

Only former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul qualified for the March 6 primary ballot.

 

 

Comments

[majesticjkr]

09:02 AM on 01/15/2012

who paid the judge

[Sophist FCD]

08:36 PM on 01/15/2012

The federal government.

[ProCynic]

08:29 PM on 01/14/2012

By March 6th, each of them will have dropped out anyway.

[pab08]

08:08 PM on 01/14/2012

Just shows how inept and unprofessional those campaigns truly are.
Inexcusable mistake. If you can't put together an organization to gather and verify the required signatures, how can you be trusted to put together an administration to lead the free world?
The only relevant question is, "Why can't the party field a better group of candidates than this cast of clowns?"

[ForVivi]

07:44 PM on 01/14/2012

They asked Gibney to declare Virginia's law unconstitutional and add their names to the March 6 ballot.

That's just what GOPers do: change the rules to serve them.

[pisedoff]

07:38 PM on 01/14/2012

Too bad it took a federal judge to tell these bozo's what the people of Virginia had already told them. We don't want you brand of drive occupying any more of our time. Together, none of you are competent enough to be POTUS. Now take your BS and your self serving egos and get out of Virginia.

[edgarcaycedoc]

07:54 PM on 01/14/2012

I am sure that if the result does not meet with their approval, the SCOTUS will not only overturn the lower court ruling, but will also appoint the winner of the primary election.

[icwhite02]

11:04 PM on 01/14/2012

I LOVE YOU! F & F'ed!

[DebS 789]

07:18 PM on 01/14/2012

Ha. Ha. It just makes one more state that doesn't have a voice in the nomination anyway. By the time Super Tuesday rolls around for so many of us the field is already pared down.

[mzkitti]

07:03 PM on 01/14/2012

Gov. Rick Perry isn't the only politician to collect a pension while still cashing a regular government paycheck. Ten of the 32 members of the Texas delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives also collect pensions from one of the public retirement systems in Texas, according to federal financial disclosure forms.
Date: December 27, 2011
By: Tim Eaton
Source: Austin Statesman

[icwhite02]

11:07 PM on 01/14/2012

Isn't THAT ILLEGAL?

[camelias and sweet tea]

06:55 PM on 01/14/2012

Hey, THEY just found out that money cannot buy EVERYTHING..good lesson for them.

[AuntLoonie]

05:40 PM on 01/14/2012

If they are feeling emasculated by the experience, thanks to Virginia's laws, they can still go into, say, a Red Lobster, and wave a gun around if it will make them feel better.

[MerryW]

07:00 PM on 01/14/2012

Oh you made me laugh!

[sugarpops]

05:27 PM on 01/14/2012

Looks like Mitt and Ron are the only GOtPs who did their homework. :/

[GeoNorth]

05:27 PM on 01/14/2012

Rules is rules...unless, apparently, you're GOP. The judge thought otherwise.

[Sunwyn Ravenwood]

05:12 PM on 01/14/2012

Har-de-har-har.

[Catsun]

07:33 PM on 01/14/2012

Wish Arch was still around.

[oldgraymare]

05:09 PM on 01/14/2012

Aw shucks!!! And I was sooo looking forward to casting my Virginia vote for Sicko Ricko. Now I will have to settle for second silliest....Ron Paul.

[morosemoose]

05:08 PM on 01/14/2012

Is this a new law or are this crop of Republicans that much more stupid than any that have gone before them?

[peachfuzz]

05:47 PM on 01/14/2012

I thought their party pushed for the rule, but maybe I am talking out of school.

[thebook]

06:49 PM on 01/14/2012

Yes, it is a new law meant to disenfranchise Democratic Voters, Repugs didn't think it applied to them also. What's good for the goose is also good for the gander.

[Miranda Wrietz]

04:55 PM on 01/14/2012

There is something a bit hypocritical for conjobs to solicit an "activist judge" to change the law. Seems like these hypocrites cannot even live by their own rules.