Here are the mostly irrelevant results for Super Tuesday's Libertarian Party presidential "primary election" in California. They indicate little, apart from Root's lack of appeal.
(Below the results, I explain why they indicate nothing, apart from Root's failure as a candidate.)
Christine Smith (Lib) 3,490 25.1 %
Steve Kubby (Lib) 2,362 17.0 %
Wayne A. Root (Lib) 1,918 13.8 %
Bob Jackson (Lib) 1,230 8.9 %
Barry Hess (Lib) 749 5.4 %
George Phillies (Lib) 698 5.1 %
Michael P. Jingozian 655 4.7 %
Daniel Imperato (Lib) 599 4.3 %
Robert Milnes (Lib) 605 4.3 %
John Finan (Lib) 588 4.2 %
Dave Hollist (Lib) 565 4.0 %
Alden Link (Lib) 447 3.2 %
Now, here's why Christine Smith's "victory" is really not a victory at all...
The "primary voters" for this election came from the 83-86,000 (last I heard) registered Libertarians in California. Unlike the 1,200+ dues-paying CLP members (from which the likely 50 or so CLP delegates to the LP national convention will be chosen), primary voters don't follow internal LP politics, so they're unfamiliar with the candidates.
It's thus not surprising that the only female name, Christine Smith, won. Sorry, but Smith won due to voter ignorance, and because of her sex. (And before you call me a "sexist," remember, I'm the one who's been promoting Karen Kwiatkowski for president these last several years.)
Smith's victory does not reflect her actual support among the eventual California delegation. It doesn't even reflect her support among primary voters, since they voted for her out of ignorance.
However, the real loser was Wayne Allyn Root. Root is the only LP candidate who is known to primary voters. Root's the only one who's appeared on Major Media for months now, doing talk radio and cable TV shows throughout Southern California.
And still, with all that Major Media attention, Root came in third.
Smith won due to voter ignorance. Root lost due to voter awareness.
I predict that neither candidate will be the favorite of the CLP (or national) delegation at the national convention.
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3 comments:
Karen Kwiatkowski would have been my choice for president too. I agree with you about the meaningless of the Primary. I highly doubt Root will get the nomination. SelectSmart says he favors federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research.
Root won Missouri, and places 2nd in Arizona. Funny you didn't report that part of the story.
And 3rd out of 12 is not a bad showing in California.
Root is now clearly the frontrunner.
Thanks, Eric, for confirming my suspicion about Root.
You've attacked Ron Paul's antiwar position, yet you promote Root despite Root's public praise for Paul.
It seems you think that Root remains secretly pro-war, despite his newfound respect for Paul.
I agree, Eric. I don't trust Root's sudden praise for Paul either. I agree with you that Root remains pro-war. That's for the confirmation.
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