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TODAY o October 9, 2000
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[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 10.13.2000]
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2000
Write-in candidates give presidential race
some colorful twists
By Saeed Ahmed
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Presidential write-in candidate Mike Strauss
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Was there a clear winner? Did you like what you heard? You can critique
the presidential debate in our email forum. |
Convicted felon Martin McNally of Marion, Ill., is running so he can pardon himself if elected.
Bruce Muckian in Federal Way, Wash., isn't really interested in the job, but thinks it's a good way to raise money for a family trip to Ireland.
And Thomas Wells of Pensacola, Fla., says he's seeking office after God directly spoke to him in his bedroom and commanded him to do so.
Meet the other aspirants for the office of the presidency: the write-in candidates. Few of them have coherent policy positions on issues or enjoy widespread name recognition, but they certainly add color to a sometimes staid campaign.
According to the Federal Election Commission, more than 200 individuals, including seven from Georgia, submitted statements of candidacy this year. The process is a simple one: It requires filing two forms and costs nothing.
"It really is that easy to call yourself an 'official' candidate for president, believe it or not," said Karen Huff, a spokeswoman for the FEC.
Unlike established third-party candidates such as Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan, few write-in candidates say they are running as a result of their disillusionment with the two-party system.
Instead, their reasons vary.
Take, for example, Clifford Catton -- a perennial candidate from Kingston, N.Y., who is in the race because "postal employees have been stealing my mail since 1981." Or Virginian Randy Owens, whose bid for the White House stems from the simple belief that "I was always told that I could be anything that I wanted to be, and right now I want to be president."
However, this is not to say that write-in candidates don't look beyond personal needs and offer solutions to the nation's ills.
Atlanta minister Hosanna Gray's get-tough-on-crime initiative consists of "exorcising the demonic spirit beings that cause people to commit them." And, as reparations for slavery, he will offer African-Americans "40 acres and a medium-sized tractor."
With virtually no campaigning or fund-raising, it is safe to assume that write-in candidates stand little chance of winning the White House this November. Still, that hasn't stopped some from considering their bid a success.
"One of my campaign slogans is 'Vote for Mike or don't vote at all,'Ê" said Mike Strauss of Newburyport, Mass., who has run in the last three elections because he says it looks good on his resume.
"And as you can see, 50 percent of the electorate are following my advice and doing just that by staying away from the polls."
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YOU CRITIQUE
THE DEBATE
Was there a clear winner?Did you like what you heard? You can critique the presidential debate in our email forum.
10.12.00
GORE-BUSH
CHANGES SLIGHT
It got a little bit personal in the end to keep things lively.
10.12.00
COMPLETE TEXT
OF DEBATE
Text of Wednesday's debate moderated by PBS anchor Jim Lehrer.
10.12.00
TOM BAXTER
Few signs emerge of foreign policy rift.
10.12.00
SOUTHERN EDGE
Candidates giving each other fits in the South
10.11.00
OPPONENTS PREPARE
No sighing, Gore vows; Bush studies global issues.
10.11.00
@ISSUE
Journal editorial says Bush made strong showing.
10.4.00
ALT.FRONTPAGE
Highlights and lowlights
10.4.00
COX NEWS
CAMPAIGN 2000
All politics, all the time.
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