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Politics : Libertarian Discussion Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mama Bear who wrote (4232)	9/26/2000 9:54:50 AM
From: Mama Bear	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13056

"Making history: Libertarian candidates will run in majority of U.S. House races WASHINGTON, DC -- The Libertarian Party will have candidates on the ballot in more than half of all U.S. House races this November, making it the only third party this year -- and the first third party in 80 years -- to accomplish that feat. At least 245 Libertarian candidates in 44 states have already qualified to be on the ballot for U.S. House in the 2000 election, Libertarian Party Political Director Ron Crickenberger announced. And as many as 10 more could qualify after primary elections. The last time a third party contested a majority of U.S. House seats was in 1920, when the Socialist Party did it. "You have to dust off the history books to find another third party that equaled the Libertarian Party's achievement this year," said Crickenberger. "A political record set in the age of the Model T Ford is being matched by the Libertarian Party in the age of the silicon chip." The ability to contest a majority of U.S. House races is significant, said Ballot Access News publisher and third-party expert Richard Winger, because the last "minor" parties to accomplish that feat all elected people to Congress. "In the past, any party strong enough to run candidates in a majority of districts was strong enough to elect at least one to Congress," he said. "It suggests that the Libertarian Party is getting into the same league as the minor parties who have done it in the past." In the 20th Century, only the Progressive Party, the Prohibition Party, and the Socialist Party were able to field candidates in more than half the U.S. House districts, and all went on to elect members of Congress, noted Winger. Libertarian candidates will also run in 40 of the 60 closest U.S. House races -- which means the Libertarian Party could be the deciding factor in who controls Congress next year, said Crickenberger. "With control of Congress still up for grabs between Democrats and Republicans, the Libertarian Party could play kingmaker," he said. "Libertarian candidates could hold the balance of power in the U.S. House this year." The Libertarian Party is running candidates in 14 of the 19 U.S. House races that Washington, DC's Roll Call described as "Toss-Ups" -- races that are too close to call between the Republican and Democrat. Libertarians are also running in nine of the 18 closely contested Congressional races Roll Call said are "leaning Republican," and 17 of the 23 races that are "leaning Democrat." "The Libertarian Party could be the deciding factor in two-thirds of the closest U.S. House races," said Crickenberger. "Republicans better think about that when they're tempted to vote again to increase federal spending, and Democrats better consider that before they vote again to restrict civil liberties. One or both parties could pay the price this November." Libertarian candidates for the U.S. House will be on the ballot in every state except for Arkansas, Rhode Island, Georgia, North Dakota, New Mexico, and Maryland, said Crickenberger. Leading the list of states with the most Libertarian U.S. House candidates is California with 45, followed by Texas (24), Ohio (18) Michigan (16), North Carolina (12), and Indiana (10). "We wanted to make sure that every American voter will find a real choice when they step into the voting booth this November," said Crickenberger. "With Libertarian candidates in a majority of Congressional districts, Americans will have the opportunity to fire Congress -- and replace them with Libertarians -- if they don't like the big-government direction in which the country is heading." lp.org