sailingaway
01-31-2012, 02:59 PM
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/doug-heye/2012/01/31/ballot-access-shows-mitt-romneys-organizational-advantage-
...It's smart thinking, and perhaps necessary thinking, the Gingrich and Santorum strategies forget the single most important and most obvious thing in winning elections that often goes unnoticed until it's too late: the ballot.
While the Gingrich and Santorum campaigns were presumably preparing for debate after debate, the Romney and Paul campaigns had the organization and infrastructure not just to walk, but to chew gum while doing so; meaning, they were focused on putting together a complete campaign instead on one dependent only on momentum.
In Missouri, Newt Gingrich did not file paperwork in time to appear on the ballot in that state's non-binding primary. After the fact, Gingrich said he did not want to compete in what is essentially a straw poll. In other words, "You can't fire me because I quit." Which is all fine and well, except that states and state parties generally have long memories when it comes to being snubbed.
On "Super Tuesday," March 6, when Republicans in ten states go to the polls, both Gingrich and Santorum will be hampered by their campaigns' inability to qualify in key states. In Tennessee, neither Gingrich nor Santorum qualified for the full slate of delegates. In Ohio, where early voting has already begun, Santorum again failed to qualify for the full slate of delegates and has little organization. And in Virginia, neither Gingrich nor Santorum will be on ballots in their home state.
Virginia, with the toughest ballot access requirements in the nation, proved a stumbling block for every campaign (including Rep. Michele Bachmann's, Herman Cain's, and Gov. Rick Perry's) but two—Romney and Paul. But while those requirements were indeed steep, all the candidates played by the rules until those rules did not favor them—a little bit like blaming the referees after a loss.
more at link
...It's smart thinking, and perhaps necessary thinking, the Gingrich and Santorum strategies forget the single most important and most obvious thing in winning elections that often goes unnoticed until it's too late: the ballot.
While the Gingrich and Santorum campaigns were presumably preparing for debate after debate, the Romney and Paul campaigns had the organization and infrastructure not just to walk, but to chew gum while doing so; meaning, they were focused on putting together a complete campaign instead on one dependent only on momentum.
In Missouri, Newt Gingrich did not file paperwork in time to appear on the ballot in that state's non-binding primary. After the fact, Gingrich said he did not want to compete in what is essentially a straw poll. In other words, "You can't fire me because I quit." Which is all fine and well, except that states and state parties generally have long memories when it comes to being snubbed.
On "Super Tuesday," March 6, when Republicans in ten states go to the polls, both Gingrich and Santorum will be hampered by their campaigns' inability to qualify in key states. In Tennessee, neither Gingrich nor Santorum qualified for the full slate of delegates. In Ohio, where early voting has already begun, Santorum again failed to qualify for the full slate of delegates and has little organization. And in Virginia, neither Gingrich nor Santorum will be on ballots in their home state.
Virginia, with the toughest ballot access requirements in the nation, proved a stumbling block for every campaign (including Rep. Michele Bachmann's, Herman Cain's, and Gov. Rick Perry's) but two—Romney and Paul. But while those requirements were indeed steep, all the candidates played by the rules until those rules did not favor them—a little bit like blaming the referees after a loss.
more at link