State Parties Trying To Make It Harder For Trump To Get On GOP Primary Ballot

[DonViejo]

As Donald Trump continues to garner attention and traction in the polls, two state Republican parties are trying to place obstacles in the real estate mogul's path to the Republican nomination.

The Republican parties in Virginia and North Carolina are both considering forcing candidates to sign a pledge that they will not run as an independent in order to qualify for the GOP primary ballot, according to Politico. The move could either keep Trump off of the ballot or keep him from launching an independent bid if he loses the Republican nomination.

Virginia GOP Chairman John Whitbeck told Politico that the pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee "isn’t about any single candidate." He said that the party is considering numerous new rules. "It happens to be one of the things that we are discussing for the 2016 primary," he said.

Republican officials in North Carolina have been consulting lawyers as to how to implement the new rule, according to Politico. Both parties will have to submit final rules to the Republican National Committee by Oct. 1.

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/gop-trump-ballot-third-aprty-pledge

[HassleCat]

1. Of dubious worth

The Republican Party can control its own primary, but it can't control the general election. Even if Trump signs such an agreement, I don't see how he's bound by it in the general election. A promise to the Republican Party would not override his constitutional right to run for political office. I suppose the state Republican parties would try to tie him up in court, and they would enjoy the cooperation of the secretaries of state, so they might keep him off the ballot as an independent.

[NCjack]

2. Ah, yes. Love it when a "plan" comes together. (This is not a GOPper plan --

it's a "happening".) And, we don't even have to send Trump some bucks to keep him going.

[reformist2]

3. Wow, they don't even trust their own voters to make the "right" choice!

We all know they're trying to suppress Democratic voter turnout, now they're trying to eliminate Republican voter choices.

Do these people believe in democracy at all? It doesn't look like it...

[procon]

4. Well, at least they're consistent.

If Republicans can't win elections honestly in a head to head vote, they'll rig the election to tip the outcome in their favor. Whether its gerrymandering, voter purges, tactics of voter suppression, or this bit of sophomoric subterfuge, its what they do.

[safeinOhio]

5. Ohio already has it's

"Soar Loser" law.