Nancy French writing in Patheos (emphasis added):
With all the hoopla surrounding the Virginia ballot, I wondered how the candidates fared in my home state. Tennessee works a little differently than other states. In fact, it seems that every state has a little tweak, a little nuance that makes it a little different from the others. That’s why the process is a great peek into how a candidate can handle complicated issues that require organization and hard work.
Tennessee will have fifty-eight delegates to the Tampa Republican National Convention. Each of our nine congressional districts will have three delegates. That means that Presidential candidates must find delegates who are leaders in their community willing to walk around with a clipboard asking friends and strangers to sign their names and their addresses on behalf of their candidacy for their preferred Presidential candidate. Each delegate had to get one hundred valid signatures of registered voters.
…
In addition to the congressional delegates, fourteen “at large” delegates will be elected. These delegates had a slightly easier job, because they weren’t restricted to a certain district and could signatures from any registered voter in our state.
A full slate of delegate candidates would be forty-one.
So which candidates were able to supply a full slate for Tennessee? Only one:
Michelle Bachmann: 0
Gary Johnson: 0
Rick Santorum: 0
Ron Paul: 35
Newt Gingrich: 34
Rick Perry: 27
Mitt Romney: 48
…
[I]t’s worth noting that the Yankee governor received forty-eight delegates in our southern state, pulling off what no other candidate could. What does this say about the conventional wisdom that southerners won’t warm to him?
You will note that Mrs. French states that a full slate of delegates is 41. Yet where none of the other candidates qualified that many, Mitt qualified 48. (I checked. He really does have 48 delegates qualified. You can check here yourself if you wish.) So not only did Romney fulfill all the requirements for Tennessee, he went the extra mile besides.
That is a hallmark of his organization. In Virginia when told the party would automatically qualify him if he reached 15,000 signatures, he wasn’t satisfied until his campaign had collected more than 16,000. Even then he still had his people do an audit on over a third of them to verify they had enough valid signatures to get on the ballot. The last step was totally unnecessary, but he did it anyway.
I am grateful I don’t have to compete with the guy.
December 31st, 2011 at 12:10 am
Very impressive.
December 31st, 2011 at 12:15 am
I don’t understand what that means. Are they on the ballot even though they didn’t meet the required number? Or is Romney the only one on the ballot?
I really don’t understand what this means.
December 31st, 2011 at 12:18 am
Michelle Bachmann: 0
Gary Johnson: 0
Rick Santorum: 0
Ron Paul: 35
Newt Gingrich: 34
Rick Perry: 27
Mitt Romney: 48
very very funny
December 31st, 2011 at 12:21 am
I’m more ashamed that none of the other candidates are capable of a minimum level of competency.
All of our candidates should be able to do these things.
December 31st, 2011 at 12:22 am
Maybe Newt/Rick some on the ballot in TN., some miss on the ballot in TN. nine congressional districts maybe they are on six. my understanf
December 31st, 2011 at 12:24 am
Petunia,
Click through to French’s Patheos article. It explains more.
December 31st, 2011 at 12:25 am
this article is hard to understand
December 31st, 2011 at 12:32 am
TA.4,
Scary, isn’t it?
I’ve got a theory. The reason so many top drawer GOP candidates declined to run this year is because they were smart enough to knew all about Mitt’s thoroughness and work ethic. They knew they were going to have to compete against it, and they really didn’t want to work that hard. Only the less astute ones, or the ones who were only in it to sell books and increase their brand’s value decided to take the leap.
December 31st, 2011 at 12:42 am
If I understand it correctly, in Tennessee you do not really vote for the candidate, you vote for his delegates. Those are the people that go to the convention.
Nancy explains in her article that if a candidate does not have a full slate, the party will supply delegates for them at a later date.
So it is not like Virginia where only two candidates are on the ballot. All of them will be on the ballot. They just won’t have enough delegates pledged to them, so any shortfall will have to be covered by the party.
Mitt, however, is supplying all his own delegates.
December 31st, 2011 at 1:57 am
Yeah, it’s a confusing system to one (like me) unfamiliar with it.
But, as I understand it, it means 2 things:
1) A candidate can only get delegates up to the amount they qualified for (and that only if those delegates get the votes);
2) It shows, once again, who the organized, quality leaders are and who are just not prepared.
I mean, my goodness, this is a minimum level requirement. They shouldn’t be having trouble with this.
It’s been said before but I’ll say it again:
TO THE CANDIDATES:
If you can’t handle the very basic process of getting yourself fully qualified to be on every state’s ballot, how can you expect us to believe you’re qualified to run the most powerful military and the largest economy in the world?
You DO know that being president is actually a hard, complex job, right? (And, don’t use Obama as your example for the answer!)
December 31st, 2011 at 2:59 am
Mitt Romney will be the most organized and most competent President in modern American history.
December 31st, 2011 at 3:13 am
While I am a huge Romney fan…. This speaks less about Romney and more about the other candidates.
The other candidates are pathitic. I do not recall any of the candidates in 2008 having these issues. That is why Romney is the only sane choose in 2012. Not only is he a great candidate, but the other candidates are horrible.
I have no doubt the reasons potential candidates like Huckabee didn’t run is because they knew they would be up for a major fight for the nomination had they run and were not willing to put in the effort in 2012 that it would require to be a legitimate candidate.
The less astute candidates like Perry got in without really thinking things through, and I am convinced that some candidates got in not to win, but to get face time and build their resumes (Newt in particular comes to mind).
December 31st, 2011 at 3:46 am
I’ve got a theory. The reason so many top drawer GOP candidates declined to run this year is because they were smart enough to knew all about Mitt’s thoroughness and work ethic. They knew they were going to have to compete against it, and they really didn’t want to work that hard. Only the less astute ones, or the ones who were only in it to sell books and increase their brand’s value decided to take the leap.
If Mitt’s organization and discipline and sheer drive is so freakin’ amazing, then why did he get his ass kicked last time?!
I mean, come on — all of the candidates did it last time. It’s not that Mitt’s so amazing — again: everyone else managed it last time — but that everyone else i the race this time really is just that inept.
December 31st, 2011 at 3:59 am
Gary Johnson: 0
At least he can’t get LESS delegates running as a libertarian candidate without any republican support.
December 31st, 2011 at 4:12 am
After these failures it’s hard to consider anyone but Romney & Paul as serious candidates.
December 31st, 2011 at 4:25 am
Alex Knepper Says:
If Mitt’s organization and discipline and sheer drive is so freakin’ amazing, then why did he get his ass kicked last time?!
=============================================
Why did Reagan lose to Gerald Ford in 1976 before he went on to crush Carter in 1980, your logic is badly flawed here.
However, I do agree that everyone else in the race this time really are inept.
December 31st, 2011 at 4:25 am
13. That’s easy, Alex. His organization and discipline are BETTER this time.
Oh, and obviously, it’s a different contest. Different dynamic.
Clearly, the other candidates are not as formidable as last time. And, Mitt’s original strategy last round did not factor in the entry of Huckabee. That really messed up his plans because there was every indication the evangelical leaders were willing to support him over McCain. But, when Huck jumped in, all bets were off.
BUT, I agree with you about the ballots. Getting on the ballots is just a MINIMUM QUALIFICATION that the others are not meeting. You’re right. THAT doesn’t say much about Mitt’s organization. But, the rest of his life shows he excels in that area.
December 31st, 2011 at 4:31 am
Interesting development with regard to a candidate who is NOT as organized as Mitt Romney:
Perry tried to get a judge to block the printing of the VA ballot. The judge refused to do so, but set up a hearing for Perry in mid-Jan. If the judge rules that Perry is right (saying VA’s process is burdensome and unconstitutional) they would have to reprint the ballots.
http://www.kutnews.org/post/judge-denies-perrys-requests-virginia-primary-ballot
I hope the judge flips him the bird and says “Tough luck, cowboy.”
December 31st, 2011 at 4:48 am
So what is the advantage of having “committed” delegates over appointed ones?
And how does that relate to the primary voting?
December 31st, 2011 at 5:39 am
“So what is the advantage of having “committed” delegates over appointed ones?” None.
December 31st, 2011 at 5:43 am
#4 Thomas EXACTLY!!!!!!
We’re SNL fodder.
And we deserve it.
December 31st, 2011 at 6:09 am
Des Moines Register Iowa poll out tonight at 7 PM.
December 31st, 2011 at 6:10 am
Great news piece at “The Hill” on how much Obama is ramping up his anti-Mitt machine in Iowa no less.
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/201839-ahead-of-iowa-caucuses-obama-readies-for-romney
December 31st, 2011 at 7:57 am
#13 Let’s not forget that in 2008 Romney was ganged upon by all the other candidates. He didn’t have name recognition and political process knowledge. He learned those lessons pretty well from McCain and Huckabee.
December 31st, 2011 at 8:26 am
The last Des Moines Register poll is usually pretty darn accurate and sets the expectations. I’m hoping it shows a small lead for Paul. Something like: Paul 24, Romney 23, Santorum 16, Perry 14, Newt 13, Bachmann 8
December 31st, 2011 at 8:41 am
Is there a site that has comprehensive information on all of the ballot access issues state by state?
December 31st, 2011 at 8:44 am
Hmm. I guess with all of Mitt’s organizing ability, some might mistake him for a Republican sort of community organizer. Is that really such a good thing?
December 31st, 2011 at 8:49 am
Hoe. Lee. Cow.
Mitt appears to have ditched the three-legged stool because he needs a minimum of eight to stand firm. Not entirely unike an octopus.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/mitt-romneys-chair-holder
December 31st, 2011 at 9:07 am
28–Do you get all your news from that fluff site…buzzfeed?
Let me get this straight….Romney has 5 times the number of supporters show up to an event and because folks can’t see him, he suggests that he stand on a chair, and his Senior Aide wants to assure that Romney doesn’t fall off or the chair tips over, so he holds it during the 15 minute stump, and THAT’S NEWS TO YOU? You really do need a life man!
December 31st, 2011 at 9:10 am
Interesting contrast with the Perry camp.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70976.html
December 31st, 2011 at 9:24 am
29. Dude, if you can’t take friendly ribbing from others on the GOP side, you’re putting yourself at dire risk of seizures when Mitt has to face Team O and his MSM cheerleaders.
December 31st, 2011 at 9:31 am
I want a man that is this thorough and this organized and pays this much attention to detail to govern our country !!!! Not the total incompetent that currently occupies the White House.
December 31st, 2011 at 9:39 am
#30 Re: Perry. I know it’s obnoxious to say, I told you so. But when Perry declared, I did say here @ Race, Show me what you’ve got, cowboy, but this IS your first time at the rodeo.
People decry that certain others didn’t get in the race. Well, just maybe they are smart enough to see that laying the groundwork for a serious, in-it-to-win-it presidential race takes years of forethought, study, garnering money, serious planning and organization and relentless determination. Learning the hard lessons of having run before aren’t a bad idea either. And oh yeah, there’s that name recognition thing.
The infamous rise and fall of the ABRs is a cautionary tale for any future candidates who think they can just willy-nilly throw their hat in the ring at the last minute and expect to go anywhere. Perry and his TX team are arrogant beyond belief to think they could.
I just listened to Mitt’s interview with Andrea Mitchell. Andrea asked all the insulting, unfriendly questions, which Mitt handled with aplomb and good nature. “Prepare; it’s the Boy Scout marching song.”
December 31st, 2011 at 9:39 am
Gosh Mitt is working so hard and competently, far above the others, that I can’t help but give him my vote on that alone! This is truly a pathetic effort from the others.
The communism, er, community organizer vs. the business, Olympic, government, political process organizer.
December 31st, 2011 at 9:50 am
This is yet another testament to the patheticness of the field.
Does anyone know how many qualified their slate in ’08? I’m pretty sure Huck, McCain, and Romney all got delegates.
December 31st, 2011 at 9:51 am
#34 Now: Read Ron Suskind’s “The Confidence Men” if you want a glimpse into just how lame and clueless Barack Obama truly is in office. Before the 2008 campaign, Obama was caught on video saying, when asked about a presidential run: “I’m not experienced enough and I’m a firm believer in knowing what you’re doing before you apply for a job.”
But then Tom Daschle, apparently a mentor of Obama’s, told him: “Run now, before you have a voting record in the Senate they can hold against you.” During the campaign I heard more than one person say, Oh, Barack’s young and inexperienced, but he’s so darn smart he can just gather experts around and he’ll figure it out.
Bull-oney. Barack’s surrounded by “experts,”–a bunch of academics with competing notions and agenda. And he sits completely clueless–and then goes off to play golf.
It’s time for someone sane (ergo not Newt), stable, experienced, proven and prepared to lead our nation. Mitt’s it; there’s no one else in the race who has gone to the trouble to prepare themselves.
December 31st, 2011 at 9:52 am
Marque,
I thought #28 was funny…..
December 31st, 2011 at 9:55 am
I’m not sure this is really that significant. No one is going to win 41 delegates in Tennessee (they will be awarded proportionately there, right?). The only way to get them all will be to win close to 100% of the vote.
December 31st, 2011 at 9:56 am
33.
Well I was a little more blunt. I’ve been saying that even before Perry got into the race he was an empty suit, promoted by the Republican machine in Texas without having to face any real outside scrutiny and with a record that was accomplished largely without his input. Anyone who does even a cursory look at the “jobs miracle” in Texas knows that not only were many of those jobs created by the low tax, energy rich nature of Texas but also a huge number of those jobs were government jobs.
Politics has become so superficial and people have become lazy, evaluating candidates on where they are from or their religion or being influenced by the echo chambers of blogs or talk radio without really digging into the actual records and backgrounds of the candidates and measuring them up for the enormous job they are seeking. That’s how we got Obama.
Here’s a great piece by a Liberty University professor, no hotbed of northeast moderates or Mormons. This is what happens when honest people look at the facts.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/12/mitt_romney_tea_party_when_tea_party_wasnt_cool.html
December 31st, 2011 at 10:04 am
If you get 50% you garner all delegates in the proportional allocations.
December 31st, 2011 at 10:10 am
28 – Hilarious. Shows the devotion of some Mitt suporters, I guess. Who said there wasn’t enthusiasm about him.
December 31st, 2011 at 10:15 am
I join with everyone else on this site in agreeing wholeheartedly with that statement!-ment!-ment!-ment….
December 31st, 2011 at 10:45 am
39 – That is an amazing article. Encapsulates everything we have been screaming about for the last 9 months. At least one person had the decency to actually look at Mitt’s record.
December 31st, 2011 at 1:07 pm
33.
Got a link to that interview?
December 31st, 2011 at 1:15 pm
44
It’s over at rightspeak.net
December 31st, 2011 at 1:52 pm
45. Thx. Great interview. Great answers to pretty tough questions. Much better than the Brett interview.
Loved the tax return answers.
December 31st, 2011 at 3:17 pm
NOW IS THE TIME TO COME TO THE AID OF YOUR COUNTRY……the quicker we unite around Gingrich, the quicker we end Willard’s threat to conservatism.
As Speaker, Gingrich led Republicans to magnificent successive victories:
* Four consecutive balanced budgets
* Over $400 billion of debt paid off
* Bipartisan welfare reform
* 11 million new jobs
* Unemployment falling to under 4%.
December 31st, 2011 at 5:45 pm
#47…..Baghdad Craig……You need to check into rehab…
January 1st, 2012 at 9:58 am
Mitt Romney inspires NOTHING in people. He just happens to be lucky. Thats why Obama would beat him.
I was nervous, and I thought it best to support Romney, but I’ve changed my mind. I think Gingrich is the only hope to win the election, THEN we can save the country.