Jon Fleischman

Jon is the elected Vice Chairman, South of the California Republican Party.

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Today is actually: 201009021524Today is: 201009021424

FlashReport Weblog on California Politics

 
 

Today's Commentary: Effort to open GOP Presidential Primary to Non-Republicans is Ill-advised, and Ill-fated

 

by Jon Fleischman - Publisher (bio) (email)(print)

 
3-7-2007 8:16 am
It is being reporting in the Washington Times today by FR friend and veteran reporter Ralph Hallow that the McCain for President Campaign, through former California Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim, is advocating (behind the scenes) for the California Republican Party to change its existing Rules, which currently require that you must be a registered Republican to vote in the upcoming Presidential primary.  According to the Times' story, Sundheim supports allowing non-GOPers (specifically independent voters) to be able to cast ballots in the GOP primary. 

Such a change is not supported by Sundheim's successor, newly elected California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring, who told me this morning, "We just completed our last state convention before the RNC's June deadline for states to submit their delegate selection rules.  Those rules are set as far as I'm concerned.  Candidates should focus their efforts on persuading California Republicans they are the most qualified to provide the vision and leadership to carry the party's banner in 2008."

This morning I had a chat with a senior official with the McCain campaign back East, and he assured me that the McCain Campaign was not involved in any such effort change the California GOP's system that is in place currently, telling me that, "this is something that California Republican Party members must decide."
 
This issue becomes much more significant in light of two other factors, both new for California politics.  The first is that the Presidential primary is likely to move to February, meaning that for the first time in decades, California Republicans may play a significant role in selecting the Party's nominee for President.  The second is that for the first time since before Ronald Reagan first ran for President in 1976, California's GOP delegates will NOT be awarded to the statewide winner of the GOP primary.  Instead, delegates will be awarding on a "winner-take-all-by-district" method where the candidate with the most votes in each of California's 53 Congressional Districts will be awarded three delegate positions.

**There is more - click the link**

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Comments

Jon --

Can independents vote in the Republican presidential primary, or not?

Posted by Bill Bradley at March 7, 2007 10:02am

Not.

Currently the CRP Rules limit participation to registered Republicans.

In theory, this could be changed by the CRP Membership by amending the Rules at the September convention.

I think that such a change is very unlikely.

Posted by Jon Fleischman at March 7, 2007 10:07am

I don't think that is what I actually asked, is it?

Posted by Bill Bradley at March 7, 2007 10:16am

The answer is, as of right now, no. There is a particular date by which political parties must notify the Secretary of State as to whether they will permit independents to vote in their primary. This date is still a ways off.

The Democrats, as of right now, allow independents to vote in their primary. They could change their position between now and that deadline.

So until the deadline has passed, neither party has a definitive answer.

Posted by Jon Fleischman at March 7, 2007 10:22am

Why would you want clueless people like me to help you choose the best candidate to win the Presidency?

Incidentally, in 2000, as I point out, the answer was not so mysterioso. I doubt the rules have changed since then.

Posted by Bill Bradley at March 7, 2007 11:53am

I am proud to have supported both Ron and Jon for these important Party offices. The idea of allowing so called indenpendents to vote in our primary is very concerning. It is good to know that we have Party leaders that will stand on principle.

Posted by Phil Paule at March 7, 2007 10:22pm

Yes, I hope all will stand on principle through the September'07 CRP Convention!
I have always found while registering voters, that they have much more incentive to register Republican when they know that otherwise they cannot vote in our Primary. While Duf's reasoning for wanting to change the rules to let nonRepublicans vote in our Primary is understandable, it is faulty logic in reality and would obviate the very reason to belong to a particular Party.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070310/news_1n10primary.html

Posted by Dr. MaryRose Consiglio at March 10, 2007 3:58pm

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