Constitution Party Presidential Nominee: Not Alan Keyes

The Constitution Party Convention is being held in Kansas City today and they selected their presidential nominee. Unfortunately, it was not Alan Keyes. Alan Keyes, with obvious national name recognition, would have drawn a significant number of votes from John McCain.

Rather, the party nominated Chuck Baldwin who was the party's 2004 vice presidential nominee.

More after the fold...

For those who aren't familiar with the Constitution Party, here's a primer.

From the Constitution Party website:

The Democrats and Republicans have squandered the Founders' legacy of liberty and justice under the Constitution. Countless government officials in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government ignore their oath to uphold and defend the Constitution.

Join the Constitution Party in its work to restore our government to its Constitutional limits and our law to its Biblical foundations

Seven Principles of the Constitution Party are:

1. Life: For all human beings, from conception to natural death;

2. Liberty: Freedom of conscience and actions for the self-governed individual;

3. Family: One husband and one wife with their children as divinely instituted;

4. Property: Each individual's right to own and steward personal property without government burden;

5. Constitution: and Bill of Rights interpreted according to the actual intent of the Founding Fathers;

6. States' Rights: Everything not specifically delegated by the Constitution to the federal government is reserved for the state and local jurisdictions;

7. American Sovereignty: American government committed to the protection of the borders, trade, and common defense of Americans, and not entangled in foreign alliances.

http://www.constitutionparty.com/

Michael Peroutka, the Constitution Party's presidential candidate in 2004, received about 132,000 votes nationwide. This represented an insignificant 1/3rd of 1% of all votes cast for president. By contrast, Nader received about 1% with about 400,000 votes.

If Alan Keyes had been nominated, with his name recognition, he could have reasonably garnered 1% to 2% of the vote, obviously at the expense of John McCain.

The next third party nomination which could have a negative effect on John McCain is the Libertarian Party. Bob Barr is priming to run as the Libertarian Party presidential nominee. Similarly, with his national name recognition, he could also pull 1% - 2% of the vote from John McCain.

The Libertarian Party convention is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend in Denver, CO.

There is an article in the Atlanta Constitution today that discusses Bob Barr's possible Libertarian run and a mention that his exploratory committee ran a poll that showed he could draw 7% of the vote. If that were true, that is a stunning number that would almost assure a Democratic victory in November. At a minimum, it would most certainly help Obama win Georgia, which is Barr's home state.

http://www.ajc.com/...

In a Newsweek article last week, even George Will acknowledges that Bob Barr will destroy John McCain's chances:

Come November, Barr conceivably could be to John McCain what Ralph Nader was to Al Gore in 2000—ruinous.

http://www.newsweek.com/...

It remains unclear if Ron Paul will run to be the Libertarian candidate.

Either way, Here's to hoping Bob Barr or Ron Paul becomes the Libertarian Party candidate for President.