The Bush campaign’s decision to play with the nominated calendar is not without consequences.
In an attempt to shamelessly exploit the third anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the GOP has moved the Republican National Convention as far into September as any party ever has. It caused a few logistical headaches in several states that have Aug. 31 deadlines for certifying presidential candidates, which, this year, is three days before Bush accepts the GOP nomination.
Eight states where the deadline problem threatened to make Bush a write-in candidate have already resolved the problem. But one state hasn’t — Illinois.
President Bush is still not on the ballot in Illinois because the General Assembly has failed to correct a snafu in state law — increasing the chance the federal courts will have to step in.
Illinois Dems, who control both chambers of the legislature, never took up the issue before going into an extended session this week. So will they fix the problem? Maybe. Now that the legislature is in “overtime,” all bills require a three-fifths supermajority to pass, and there are probably quite a few Dems who aren’t anxious to give Bush a hand. Chances are, this will end up in court.
A lot of observers seem to be blaming Illinois Dems’ “mischief,” but shouldn’t the Bush campaign deserve at least as much blame for messing with the calendar in the first place?