Abortion-rights activists score wins at state level

In the 2024 U.S. election. abortion-rights ballot measures passed in seven of ten states, including five won by Trump/Vance.

Abortion protest, New York, May 2022. Photo by Legoktm. CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.

Pro-Choice Abortion Initiatives Pass in Seven Out of Ten States | Reason | Elizabeth Nolan Brown:

November 6, 2024 - "Measures meant to protect abortion access were approved by voters in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, and New York.... Until yesterday, the pro-choice position [has] prevailed in every state where abortion-related measures were on the ballot, including in red states such as Kansas, Kentucky, and Ohio. That ... pattern is broken somewhat by results in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota.... 

• In Florida, 57 percent of voters supported Amendment 4, an Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion ... but it falls short of the 60 percent approval threshold required for constitutional amendments in Florida.
• In Nebraska, 48.7 percent of voters approved the state's Right to Abortion measure, (Initiative 439), which would have amended the constitution to declare that 'all persons shall have a fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability'.... [A] competing measure — Initiative 434 — passed 55.3 percent to 44.7 percent.... Initiative 434 ... allows for first trimester abortions but prohibits second and third trimester abortion unless 'necessitated by a medical emergency or when the pregnancy results from sexual assault or incest'....
• [I]n South Dakota — where it's currently criminal to perform an abortion or prescribe abortion medication unless a pregnant woman's life is at risk ... [v]oters rejected Amendment G — a citizen-led initiative to enshrine abortion rights in the state's constitution— by almost 20 percentage points (with 87 percent of votes counted)..... 
• In Arizona, voters approved Proposition 139, a measure that enshrines a 'fundamental right' to abortion until fetal viability in the state's constitution. Abortion is currently legal in Arizona only until 15 weeks pregnancy. Voters rejected this status quo, with about 62 percent voting for Proposition 139 with 60 percent of votes tallied.
• In Missouri, where abortion is currently illegal except in medical emergencies, voters approved Amendment 3, a constitutional amendment declaring that 'the Government shall not deny or infringe upon a person's fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which is the right to make and carry out decisions about all matters relating to reproductive health care, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions'.... 
• In Maryland, where abortion is currently legal until fetal viability, voters overwhelmingly approved Question 1, also known as the Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment. The tally was about 74 percent for and just 26 percent with three-quarters of votes counted. Initiated by state lawmakers, ... the amendment says 'the State may not, directly or indirectly, deny, burden, or abridge the right [to an abortion] unless justified by a compelling State interest achieved by the least restrictive means.'
• In Montana, where abortion is currently legal until fetal viability, voters approved The Right to Abortion Initiative, also known as CI-128. The measure will amend the state constitution to say 'there is a right to make and carry out decisions about one's own pregnancy, including the right to abortion,' and 'this right shall not be denied or burdened unless justified by a compelling government interest achieved by the least restrictive means'....
• In Nevada, where abortion is now legal until 24 weeks pregnancy, voters approved Question 6.... The measure states that the right to an abortion 'shall not be denied, burdened, or infringed upon unless justified by a compelling state interest that is achieved by the least restrictive means.' With 84 percent of Nevada votes counted, it was up 63.3 percent to 36.7 percent. However, it must pass again in 2026 to be enacted.
• In Colorado, where abortion is currently legal throughout pregnancy, voters passed Amendment 79.... The measure repeals a 1984 amendment prohibiting the use of public funds for abortion and creates a new constitutional amendment stating that 'the right to abortion is hereby recognized. Government shall not deny, impede, or discriminate against the exercise of that right, including prohibiting health insurance coverage for abortion'....

"Trump won Florida, Missouri, and Montana and ... Arizona and Nevada ... yet a majority of voters in these states, too, opted to support legal abortion."

Read more: https://reason.com/2024/11/06/pro-choice-abortion-initiatives-pass-in-seven-out-of-ten-states/

Voters put cannabis legalization on state ballots

U.S. voters have been signing petitions to put cannabis legalization on more state ballots this fall; but in at least one state, votes may not be counted.

Recreational marijuana legalization will be on November ballot in Missouri | Springfield News-Leader - Greta Cross & Galen Bacharier:

August 12, 2022 - "Missourians can expect to see marijuana back on the ballot in November, this time as a constitutional amendment that would legalize recreational use and clear cannabis-related convictions. Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced Tuesday morning that ... a minimum number of valid signatures were obtained from six of the eight congressional districts, putting it on the Nov. 8 ballot.

"The ballot measure proposes an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that would:

• Remove state prohibitions on purchasing, possessing, consuming, using, delivering, manufacturing and selling marijuana for personal use for adults over 21;
• Require a registration card for personal cultivation with prescribed limits;
• Allow persons with certain marijuana-related non-violent offenses to petition for release from incarceration or parole and probation and have records cleared;
• Establish a lottery selection process to award licenses and certificates;
• Issue equally distributed licenses to each congressional district;
• Impose a 6% tax on the retail price of marijuana to benefit various programs.

"Legal Missouri 2022, the campaign backing the ballot measure, says they earned more than 214,000 verified signatures across all eight congressional districts, outpacing the 184,720 minimum needed to make the ballot."

Read more: https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/2022/08/09/marijuana-use-clearing-cannabis-crimes-nov-8-ballot-recreational-missouri-legalize/10277162002/

Arkansas marijuana legalization initiative to appear on November ballot; votes may not be counted pending state supreme court ruling | Ballotpedia - Jackie Mitchell:

August 12, 2022 - "On Aug. 11, the Arkansas Supreme Court ordered the Secretary of State to certify a marijuana legalization initiative for the election on Nov. 8. Votes on the initiative may not be counted pending a court ruling on the initiative’s ballot language. Responsible Growth Arkansas, the campaign behind the marijuana legalization initiative, submitted more than 190,000 signatures on July 8. The Arkansas secretary of state announced on July 29 that the campaign had submitted more than the required number of valid signatures (89,151) and would qualify for the ballot if the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners certified the ballot language.

"On Aug. 3, 2022, the election commissioners declined to certify the ballot title and popular names for the initiative, stating that the language was misleading. The next day, Responsible Growth Arkansas filed a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court [and] requested an expedited review because the deadline for the secretary of state to certify measures for the 2022 ballot is August 25. On August 11, the state Supreme Court ordered the secretary of state to certify the measure for the ballot. Votes on the initiative may not be counted, however, if the supreme court rules that the ballot language is misleading....

"The measure would legalize marijuana use for individuals 21 years of age and older and authorize the commercial sale of marijuana with a 10% sales tax. Adults could possess up to one ounce of marijuana. Under the amendment, businesses that already hold licenses under the state’s medical marijuana program would be authorized to sell marijuana for personal use. An additional 40 licenses would be given to businesses chosen by a lottery. The Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Division of the Department of Finance and Administration would regulate the program and provide for cannabis business licensing.

"Marijuana legalization measures are certified to appear on the 2022 ballot in Maryland, Missouri, and South Dakota. Marijuana legalization measures could also appear on the ballot in Oklahoma and North Dakota. Currently, 19 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized the possession and personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes. Eleven states and D.C. had legalized marijuana through the ballot initiative process."

Read more: https://news.ballotpedia.org/2022/08/12/arkansas-marijuana-legalization-initiative-to-appear-on-november-ballot-votes-may-not-be-counted-pending-state-supreme-court-ruling/

 

Hornberger wins with 75% in Missouri LP primary

by George J. Dance

Unofficial results of the Missouri Libertarian Party (LP) presidential primary, held on March 10, have been posted on Wikipedia.

2,256 votes were cast in the Libertarian primary. Of those, Future of Freedom Foundation founder Jacob Hornberger received 1,683 votes (74.6%).

The remaining 573 votes (25.4%) were cast for None of the Above (NOTA). Hornberger was the only candidate on the ballot.

NOTA actually won the 2016 Missouri LP primary, with 1,170 votes (40% of the vote), followed by Missouri native Austin Petersen with 851 (29%) and Steve Kerbel with 401 (14%). Gary Johnson, the eventual winner of the LP nomination that year, was not on the ballot.

Cannabis prohibition defeated in 3 more states

The Growing Consensus for Legalizing Marijuana - Reason.com - Steve Chapman:

November 9, 2018 - "The United States remains starkly divided between red and blue, with Republicans and Democrats each registering some gains and some setbacks in the elections. But on one important issue, a national consensus is emerging....

"On Tuesday, Michigan became the 10th state, along with the District of Columbia, to decide to legalize marijuana for purely recreational use. A quarter of Americans will live in states that let them get stoned.... Then there are the states that allow marijuana to be used for medical needs. On Tuesday, Missouri and Utah  ... voted to join the club. That brings the total number of states that allow pot to be legally consumed in some circumstances to 32, according to the Drug Policy Alliance, plus D.C....

"Illinois elected a governor, J.B. Pritzker, who favors allowing recreational cannabis. So did Connecticut (Ned Lamont), Maine (Janet Mills), Minnesota (Tim Walz), and New Mexico (Michelle Lujan Grisham)....

"Cannabis has already run away with the contest for public favor. In 2000, according to the Pew Research Center, only 31 percent of Americans supported legalizing recreational pot. Today, 62 percent do.

"But even in states where cannabis is legal, it isn't. Federal law still bans weed, with penalties that include prison time even for mere users. Sick people smoking it to relieve chronic pain, muscular dystrophy, or epilepsy, in faithful compliance with their state laws, are not exempt from prosecution.... Under Barack Obama, the Justice Department adopted a hands-off policy...  But ... die-hard prohibitionist Jeff Sessions reversed course [and] ordered prosecutors to fully enforce federal laws....

"This ought to be an issue on which the two parties can come together — not on whether marijuana should be legal but on whether states should be allowed to make the ... choices. Last year, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) joined with Democratic colleagues Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York to propose ending the federal prohibition on medical cannabis....

"Republicans might gain politically from eliminating the federal role. Taking a more moderate position on a matter that millions of people regard as no business of politicians could soften their image among independent voters. Passing an important measure with bipartisan support would demonstrate that the 2018 election results didn't prevent our lawmakers from getting anything useful done."

Read more: https://reason.com/archives/2018/11/09/the-growing-consensus-for-legalizing-mar
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Cannabis initiatives on 4 state ballots

4 More States Could Legalize Medical or Recreational Marijuana Next Week - Hit & Run : Reason.com - Jacob Sullum:

Michigan
"Proposal 1 would allow adults 21 or older to possess 2.5 ounces or less of marijuana in public, transfer that amount to other adults "without remuneration," possess up to 10 ounces at home, and grow up to 12 plants for personal consumption. The initiative also would establish a licensing system for commercial production and distribution.... Support for Proposal 1 averaged 54 percent in six polls conducted from late February to early October....

North Dakota
"Measure 3 would go further than any initiative enacted so far by ... legalizing 'any nonviolent marijuana activity, except for the sale of marijuana to a person under the age of 21'.... The North Dakota initiative is also unique in requiring 'automatic expungement of the record of an individual who has a drug conviction for a controlled substance that has been legalized'.... North Dakota voters approved medical marijuana by a 28-point margin in 2016, but  ... [s]urveys conducted in February and August put support for legalizing recreational use at 46 percent and 38 percent, respectively....

Utah
"Proposition 2 would authorize the production and distribution of marijuana for medical use by patients with any of 10 qualifying conditions and recommendations from their doctors. As of 2021, state-approved patients would be allowed to grow up to six plants at home if they do not live within 100 miles of a licensed dispensary. Support ... averaged 68 percent in nine polls conducted from mid-February to mid-October. Even after the LDS church joined the coalition opposing the initiative, two polls put support at 64 percent....

Missouri
"Amendment 2, Amendment 3, and Proposition C would all authorize production and distribution of marijuana for medical use....The measures differ mainly in the way they define qualifying conditions, ... maximum amounts ... home cultivation, ... tax rates ... limits they would impose on the number of dispensaries, and the power they would give local governments to ban them. A poll conducted in August found that 54 percent of Missouri voters think the medical use of marijuana should be permitted."

Read more: https://reason.com/blog/2018/10/29/4-more-states-could-legalize-medical-or
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Austin Petersen loses Missouri Senate primary

Bitcoin-Friendly U.S. Senate Candidate Austin Petersen Loses Republican Primary -
CCN:

August 8, 2018 - "Pro-bitcoin U.S. Senate candidate Austin Petersen has lost his Republican primary bid to challenge incumbent Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill in the upcoming mid-term election.

"Petersen, who accepted the largest single bitcoin donation in federal election history and was also forced to return several six-figure cryptocurrency contributions due to campaign finance regulations, was soundly defeated by Attorney General Josh Hawley, who received 58.6 percent of the 663,553 votes...

"Despite garnering endorsements from several state-level Missouri politicians, Petersen finished a distant third, receiving 8.2 percent of the vote and coming in just behind Tony Monetti, who had been endorsed by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

"Petersen’s candidacy was always a longshot, and the Republican National Committee (RNC) had already begun campaigning for Hawley long before last night’s primary. Hawley had also won endorsements from major local newspapers, including the Kansas City Star, who said that many of Peterson’s ideas are “best left to theoretical discussions in academia, or ignored altogether'....

"For cryptocurrency supporters, Petersen’s candidacy marked an opportunity to add another pro-bitcoin voice to Congress.... As CCN reported, some legislators — such as Congressional Blockchain Caucus members Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) — have embraced the burgeoning field, while others, perhaps most notably Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), have called for the government to pursue an outright ban on cryptocurrency.

"Previously, Petersen ran for president as a Libertarian Party candidate during the 2016 presidential election, finishing second ... to former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who ultimately received 3.28 percent of the popular vote."

Read more: https://www.ccn.com/bitcoin-friendly-u-s-senate-candidate-austin-petersen-loses-republican-primary/
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Can Petersen "make libertarianism cool again"?

How Austin Petersen Can Make Libertarianism Cool Again | Harvard Political Review - Laura Nicolae:

September 26, 2017 - "Americans are tired of choosing between the 'lesser of two evils.' The country needs a moderate, likable candidate who can bridge the ideological gap with a balanced middle ground. Austin Petersen, a 36-year-old libertarian from Missouri, can do just that.

"Petersen ... is a passionate, articulate activist with a large youth following. Last year, he placed second in the Libertarian party presidential primary. In 2018, he will enter Missouri’s 2018 senate race as a Republican, hoping to unseat incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill....

"While he supports economic policies such as free trade and respect for private property, he also fights for personal freedoms like recreational drug use and internet privacy. The enthusiastic Midwesterner could become a source of inspiration for disaffected citizens who seek a centrist alternative to two increasingly polarized parties. If successful, his campaign would provide a model of how to forge a viable middle ground in the modern political arena....

"He demands criminal justice reforms to mend the damage caused by previous policy initiatives such as the war on drugs and mandatory minimum sentences. While these positions mirror those of mainstream Democrats, Petersen emphasizes the importance of making the government more efficient, not necessarily larger. Petersen’s social liberalism could set him apart from the other candidates and attract the votes of millennials, who often lean left on social issues....

"While he’s conventionally liberal on social issues, Petersen also advocates slashing the corporate income tax and cutting business regulations, which he blames for sending jobs overseas. He’d like to abolish the income tax entirely, and supports a flat 15 percent income tax as a first step....

"Petersen doesn’t see his social liberalism and fiscal conservatism as incompatible. To him, philosophical consistency requires supporting individual freedom of all kinds. For example, he believes those who support others’ right to control their body should also support their right to do what they want with their money.

"Many people lean libertarian on at least one issue. The challenge, Petersen argues, is to get them to see the logical consistency of supporting freedom across the board."

Read more: http://harvardpolitics.com/united-states/how-austin-petersen-can-make-libertarianism-cool-again/
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Petersen leaves Libertarian Party 'for now'

Read Austin Petersen's Goodbye Note to the Libertarian Party - Hit & Run : Reason.com - Nick Gillespie:

July 4, 2017 - "Austin Petersen, the second-place finisher for the 2016 Libertarian Party presidential nomination, is running for the U.S. Senate seat in Missouri currently held by Democrat Claire McCaskill. But he's running as a Republican and explains his decision below....

"Dear friends in the Libertarian Party,

"For the last eight weeks, I've spent six hours a day calling my supporters to ask them their thoughts on how I might best advance liberty. I took the time to listen to every single persons' opinion about a potential opportunity to seek a seat in the U.S. Senate here in my home state of Missouri.

"Of the thousands of people I spoke to, all encouraged a run, hundreds donated, and the vast majority offered their opinion regarding which party I should align with. Over 98% of them, including registered Libertarians, independents, Republicans, and even Democrats, said to run GOP....

"I have chosen to listen to them, as they are the lifeblood of all efforts that I will make to advance our common cause. They are the people whose time, energy, and money I will need to bring our movement a victory that we desperately need....

"I have served the Libertarian Party in nearly every capacity, at every level, from your humble volunteer coordinator at your national office, to one of your top contenders for President of the United States. Any future successes I may garner in the realm of politics will come in large part because of the experience and opportunities you gave me to advance American freedom, and for that I thank you.

"Sadly, I must depart for now. I go with no ill will, and wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Best Wishes,
Austin Petersen"

Read more: http://reason.com/blog/2017/07/04/read-austin-petersens-goodbye-note-to-th
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Utah legislators unveil "Right to Try" drug bill

Bill would allow terminally ill to use experimental drugs - Beaumont Enterprise - Michelle Price, Associated Press:

January 13, 2015 - "A handful of Utah lawmakers on Tuesday unveiled a proposal that would make Utah the latest state to let terminally-ill patients obtain experimental drugs that have not been federally approved.

"So-called 'Right to Try' legislation has been pushed by those who say the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval process takes too long.

"Huntsville Republican Rep. Gage Froerer held a press conference at Utah's Capitol on Tuesday to announce the bill he'll sponsor in the upcoming legislative session.

Not all patients can qualify for experimental drug trials through the FDA, and this will allow patients and doctors to cut through red tape, Froerer said....

"The Goldwater Institute, a libertarian think tank based in Arizona, is pushing the issue in Utah and other states. 'Right to Try' laws have already been approved in five states: Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Missouri and Michigan. Lawmakers in Kansas and Wyoming are considering similar provisions this year."

Read more: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Bill-would-allow-terminally-ill-to-use-6012407.php
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Ferguson, MO, shows cost of militarizing police

Police Militarization in Ferguson -- and Your Town | Cato @ Liberty - Walter Olson:

August 13, 2014 - "Why armored vehicles in a Midwestern inner suburb? Why would cops wear camouflage gear against a terrain patterned by convenience stores and beauty parlors? Why are the authorities in Ferguson, Mo. so given to quasi-martial crowd control methods (such as bans on walking on the street) and, per the reporting of Riverfront Times, the firing of tear gas at people in their own yards? ('"This my property!" he shouted, prompting police to fire a tear gas canister directly at his face.') Why would someone identifying himself as an 82nd Airborne Army veteran, observing the Ferguson police scene, comment that 'We rolled lighter than that in an actual warzone'?

"As most readers have reason to know by now, the town of Ferguson, Mo. outside St. Louis, numbering around 21,000 residents, is the scene of an unfolding drama that will be cited for years to come as a what-not-to-do manual for police forces. After police shot and killed an unarmed black teenager on the street, then left his body on the pavement for four hours, rioters destroyed many local stores. Since then, police have refused to disclose either the name of the cop involved or the autopsy results on young Michael Brown; have not managed to interview a key eyewitness even as he has told his story repeatedly on camera to the national press; have revealed that dashcams for police cars were in the city’s possession but never installed; have obtained restrictions on journalists, including on news-gathering overflights of the area; and more."

Read more: http://www.cato.org/blog/police-militarization-ferguson-nationwide
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Hair braiders sue three states over licensing laws

Libertarian-backed hair braiders sue three states over license requirements | Fashion | theguardian.com - Amanda Holpuch, The Guardian:

June 18, 2014 - "Hair braiders in three US states filed lawsuits this week calling cosmetology licensing regulations unconstitutional, in part because the licensing process does not require certificants to learn hair braiding techniques.

"With help from the libertarian Institute for Justice, plaintiffs in Washington, Missouri and Arkansas said the licensing process puts an unnecessary burden on braiders who would have to pay for and attend cosmetology or vocational school to obtain a license.

"'I think that it might reflect a lack of awareness of the nuances of black hairstyles by the people that are focused on establishing these type of regulations,' said Adia Harvey Wingfield, an associate professor at Georgia State University.

"Hair braiding is a natural technique that does not require chemicals or technical equipment and relies on specific, centuries-old processes that can take several hours to complete.

"But hair braiders in 24 states must still adhere to cosmetology regulations, even if they do not offer hair cutting, dying or other services that alter the structure of hair.

"After a similar lawsuit in 2005, Washington said it would not require hair braiders to obtain such licenses because braiding doesn’t include processes that alter hair structure in the way that haircuts and coloring services do. However, Salamata Sylla, the owner of a hair braiding salon and plaintiff in the new Washington suit, was told she could only continue braiding if she got a state license – which would require 1,600 hours of training and two examinations on services she does not offer, like beard-trimming."

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2014/jun/18/hair-braiders-licensing-plawsuits
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Libertarian Slantz says he isn't beholden to special interests

seMissourian.com: Local News: Libertarian Slantz says he isn't beholden to special interests - Erin Ragan:

May 6, 2013 - "A break from the "duality of major party representation" is what 8th Congressional District candidate Bill Slantz, a Libertarian, said he wants to offer constituents.

"Slantz is among four candidates whose names will appear on the ballot in the June 4 special election. When over, the election will produce a successor to Jo Ann Emerson, a Republican who represented the district in Congress for more than 16 years. Emerson resigned in January to become CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

"Libertarians in February nominated Slantz, a St. Charles, Mo., business owner, to run as their party's candidate."

Read more: http://www.semissourian.com/story/1966267.html
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St. Louis County Libertarian Party opposes Proposition P

St. Louis County Libertarian Party Opposes Proposition P - StLToday.com:

April 1, 2013 - "The St. Louis County Libertarian Party stands in strong opposition to Proposition P, the Safe and Accessible Arch and Public Parks Initiative.

"Proposition P would allow an additional 3/16ths of a cent increase in regional sales taxes to fund a park under Federal jurisdiction.... But, as it stands, collecting a local tax to bolster a Federal endeavor is illogical.

"The St. Louis County Libertarian Party does not hate parks. We don’t hate The Arch. We do not oppose beautification efforts or civil engineering improvements in public space. We do, however, oppose Proposition P. If the Federal government wants to subsidize Federal parklands by reprioritizing its already massive $2.9 trillion dollars in Federal revenue, that would be the responsible course of action. If local business leaders and entrepreneurs feel this redesign of The Arch grounds would bring in more tourism revenue, it is in their interest to fund the project through private donations."

Read more: http://interact.stltoday.com/pr/local-news/PR040113095112384
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Libertarian Party taps Bill Slantz for 8th District race in Missouri

seMissourian.com: Local News: Libertarian Party taps Bill Slantz for 8th District race (02/10/13):

February 10, 2013 - "BENTON, Mo. -- Lacking the suspense of the GOP meeting, the Libertarian Party's meeting to nominate its candidate for the 8th Congressional District special election created an opportunity for the party's man to talk policy and politics.

"Bill Slantz was unanimously nominated Saturday to be his party's candidate in a June 4 special election to replace former U.S. representative Jo Ann Emerson.

"Before the meeting at the Scott County Courthouse in Benton, Slantz fielded questions posed by Missouri Libertarian Party executive director Greg Tlapek and the Southeast Missouri State University Student Libertarian Association.

"Slantz said his views incorporated 'the best' of the Democratic and Republican parties, and he would encourage resolutions to bring the polarized parties closer."

Read more: http://www.semissourian.com/story/1939807.html
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Is Ron Paul secretly winning Missouri caucus?

Is Ron Paul Secretly Winning The Missouri Caucus? - Grace Wyler, Business Insider:

March 20 - "Ron Paul's quiet pursuit of delegates appears to be paying off. Early results from Missouri's caucuses this weekend show that the long-shot libertarian candidate is significantly outperforming his rivals in the race for delegates. Senior campaign advisors tell Business Insider that Paul appears to have picked up the majority of Missouri's delegates....

"In Missouri, Paul's robust and aggressive organization has filled a void left by Santorum's lackluster operation. As in Iowa, Maine, and other states, Paul organizers have taken advantage of caucus chaos to stage legitimate takeovers of several county contests. In St. Charles County, outside St. Louis, the crowd was so unruly that party leaders were forced to shut down the caucus before delegates were elected, and two Paul supporters were arrested.

"On a conference call with reporters today, senior [Santorum] campaign strategist John Yob told reporters that they anticipate Santorum will win a majority of delegates in the Show Me State. But reports from the caucuses indicate that the Santorum campaign was completely outmaneuvered by the Paul campaign."

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/is-ron-paul-secretly-winning-the-missouri-caucus-2012-3#ixzz1phUM9yAw
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Caucus goes to Ron Paul - Branson Tri-Lakes News News Free - Caucus goes to Ron Paul: News Free

Caucus goes to Ron Paul - Branson Tri-Lakes News:

January 20, 2012 - "Saturday’s nonbinding Taney County Republican caucus was a decisive victory for Ron Paul, though the results are being formally contested to the state GOP by the losing side.... While Paul supporters scored major wins in other caucuses Saturday by partnering with the backers of frontrunner Mitt Romney, such was not the case in Taney County....

"The selection process was not without contention. A clear rift formed between Paul supporters and a group allied with the Taney County Republican Central Committee and Branson’s Tea Party Patriot HQ.... Tera Sukman, director of Tea Party HQ, expected the Paul contingent to be strong and said she spent $1,000 advertising and encouraging registered voters to attend. At least 240 were in attendance at one point Saturday....

"Sukman, who doesn’t support Paul, said she and the central committee are contesting the caucus’s results. She plans to send a letter to Missouri GOP chairman David Cole that details a number of Kershaw’s procedures she questions, including his insistence that presidential candidates not be discussed — though he had been echoed in that ruling by others."

Read more: http://bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_69d3a41e-72d7-11e1-86e0-001871e3ce6c.html
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