If Kerry delays nomination GOP may seek equal time

[Spin Police]

[url[http://news.bostonherald.com/national/view.bg?articleid=29122[/url]

GOP: We’ll crash party: Repubs want equal time if Kerry snubs nomination
By Andrew Miga
Monday, May 24, 2004

WASHINGTON - President Bush's campaign yesterday threatened to hold four days of campaign rallies to yank the media spotlight from Boston's Democratic National Convention if Sen. John F. Kerry [related, bio] delays accepting his party's nomination.
 
     ``Certainly, we would give strong consideration that there be (Bush) rallies all four nights of their four-day political rally in Boston, should Kerry decide to delay his nomination,'' said Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt.
 
     The Kerry camp, already catching flak from some party officials complaining the delay could render the Hub event irrelevant, brushed off the Bush threat.
 
     ``We would expect that the Bush campaign is going to try and run counter-activities during the convention,'' said Kerry campaign spokesman Michael Meehan.
 
     Republicans said if Kerry stalls on the nomination, the four-day Boston gathering should be considered a political rally, not a convention.
 
     If Kerry opts for delay, the Bush campaign would seek to blunt media coverage of the July 26-29 Boston convention by demanding TV networks abide by federal laws requiring equal time for both parties, a Republican source said.
 
     ``It would be our expectation that our rallies receive the same coverage as the Democratic convention,'' a GOP official said. ``What happens if Kerry has 15,000 people in Boston for a speech and we have a Bush rally in Minnesota with 25,000 people?''
 
     Kerry, who floated a trial balloon Friday about delaying the nomination to raise money for five more weeks to cut into Bush's fund-raising advantage, is expected to request an advisory opinion from the Federal Election Commission soon, a Kerry source said.
 
     ``It's a brilliant strategy,'' said U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano [related, bio] (D- Somerville). ``There's only one goal now: Beat George Bush, whatever it takes.''
 
     Bay State Gov. Mitt Romney [related, bio] declined to comment yesterday on Kerry.
 
     Capuano denied that Kerry's move would be a snub to Bostonians being asked to make huge sacrifices due to heavy security and commuting nightmares.
 
     ``Politics is a bloodless battle, it is not a genteel sport,'' Capuano said. ``Those who play by genteel rules, generally don't win. The average guy in the street could not care less what Kerry is doing . . . it will be a coronation without the crown going on his head.''
 
     If Kerry accepts the nomination July 29 in Boston, he will have to begin spending $75 million in public general election funding.
 
     The advantage would go to Bush, who would not have to begin doing so until five weeks later on Sept. 2.

[WalterMitty]

good idea.

personally, if kerry tries this litle stunt, i hope president bush  refuses public money so he will be able to raise and spend as much money as he wants.

[California Dreamer]

aww   the poor republicans are mad that they might go from having an overwhelming advantage in money to only having a huge advantage


...poor boys

[classical liberal]

You realize that this is the game.  Kerry moved a knight, the GOP is moving a pawn to intercept, but it's still a space away from attack range.  Hopefully we'll be able to move it up before the knight is in place to inhibit a range of moves that are currently open.

[Giant Saguaro]

It's the principle behind this whole thing that's a turnoff for me. The GOP wanted theirs late to coincide with a 9/11 annversary and now Kerry, as he hasn't yet been able to cut a deal with Nader, is trying to back out of his because it's too early and he's trying to cut another corner and figure out another way to get a one-up.

Money only matters when one candidate has zero or next to zero, and both of these two have set records. Neither one will be able to avalanche the other one with ads.

[California Dreamer]

Kerry's goal is to level the playing field.

If he does this than both candidates will have exactly the same amount from September 1 to the election.


It is 'fair and balanced'




The latest way they are thinking of doing this is to right into the rules that the nomination takes effect September 1.

[classical liberal]

Kerry's goal is to level the playing field.

If he does this than both candidates will have exactly the same amount from September 1 to the election.


It is 'fair and balanced'




The latest way they are thinking of doing this is to right into the rules that the nomination takes effect September 1.

Good quote of FOX.

[pieman]

If the FEC rule says the date is nomimation convention, what gives Kerry the right to break the rule?

The DEMs had every opprtunity to pick a later date. They picked July for their convention fuuly aware of the circumstances.  

It is only FAIR that Kerry has to follow the Campaign Finance rules. Or are the rules only for the other guys to follow?

[California Dreamer]

I believe the rules are "September 1st or date of nomination"

I know that you GOPers believe it is your god given right to have a gigantic spending advantage, but it isnt.

[pieman]

I believe the rules are "September 1st or date of nomination"

which ever occurs FIRST.

[California Dreamer]

my point is that I dont the rule mentions the 'convention'

which is why the Dems are planning on making their rules state that the nomination 'takes effect' at the same time as the Republican nomination, or Sept 1. Which is certainly in the spirit of the FEC.

Plus the Dems are going to get FEC approval before they do anything, so the 'break the rules' line wont work if the FEC approves the rule.

as I said...'fair and balanced'

[WalterMitty]

kerry supporters, cant you see this little gimmick is already hurting your candidate.  you could be using this time to get your message out, instead you use it to figure out ways to skirt the law.

this weekend the public didnt hear anything about kerry's proposals for the country.  forget iraq, jobs, and health care, let's spend about three or four news cycles floating the idea to delay the nomination.  gee whiz, who is running this campaign anyway?

[pieman]

Here is the appropriate text from the campaign finance law from fec.gov

Note that the Expenditure Reporting Period starts on THE EARLIER OF    
1. the date on which such major party at its national convention
nominated its candidate, OR
2. September 1st.

Also note the dates reflected in the Primary Presidental Funding portion. It would be tough to argue that one would end without the other starting. If a party does not nominate by national convention, the LATEST the PRIMARY FUNDING can go is the National convention.

Also note that failure to nominate at the national convention causes problems with the funding received for the Presidential Nominating Convention.


TITLE 26. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
Chapter 95—Presidential Election Campaign Fund
§ 9001. Short title
This chapter may be cited as the Presidential Election Campaign
Fund Act・

§ 9002. Definitions
For purposes of this chapter—

. . .

(12) The term Expenditure report period with respect to any
presidential election means—
(A) in the case of a major party, the period beginning
with the first day of September before the election, or, if earlier,
with the date on which such major party at its national convention
nominated its candidate for election to the office of President
of the United States, and ending 30 days after the date of
the presidential election; and


Chapter 96—Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account
§ 9031. Short title
This chapter may be cited as the Presidential Primary Matching
Payment Account Act・
§ 9032. Definitions

. . .

(6) The term “Matching payment period” means the period
beginning with the beginning of the calendar year in which a general
election for the office of President of the United States will be held
and ending on the date on which the national convention of the party
whose nomination a candidate seeks nominates its candidate for the
office of President of the United States, or, in the case of a party
which does not make such nomination by national convention, ending
on the earlier of—
(A) the date such party nominates its candidate for the
office of President of the United States, or
(B) the last day of the last national convention held by a
major party during such calendar year.

[??????????]

kerry supporters, cant you see this little gimmick is already hurting your candidate.  you could be using this time to get your message out, instead you use it to figure out ways to skirt the law.

this weekend the public didnt hear anything about kerry's proposals for the country.  forget iraq, jobs, and health care, let's spend about three or four news cycles floating the idea to delay the nomination.  gee whiz, who is running this campaign anyway?

Kerry has yet to say anything about what he's going to do. I can stand up on a stage and say "I will fight terror" "I will create jobs". But it's all hollow if you don't tell someone HOW you're going to do it.

[Lunar]

Even if Kerry moved his nomination to Sept. 1st, it'd still be before Bush's one.

[pieman]

Here is the appropriate text from the campaign finance law from fec.gov

Note that the Expenditure Reporting Period starts on THE EARLIER OF    
1. the date on which such major party at its national convention
nominated its candidate, OR
2. September 1st.

Also note the dates reflected in the Primary Presidental Funding portion. It would be tough to argue that one would end without the other starting. If a party does not nominate by national convention, the LATEST the PRIMARY FUNDING can go is the National convention.

Also note that failure to nominate at the national convention causes problems with the funding received for the Presidential Nominating Convention.


TITLE 26. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
Chapter 95—Presidential Election Campaign Fund
§ 9001. Short title
This chapter may be cited as the Presidential Election Campaign
Fund Act・

§ 9002. Definitions
For purposes of this chapter—

. . .

(12) The term Expenditure report period with respect to any
presidential election means—
(A) in the case of a major party, the period beginning
with the first day of September before the election, or, if earlier,
with the date on which such major party at its national convention
nominated its candidate for election to the office of President
of the United States, and ending 30 days after the date of
the presidential election; and


Chapter 96—Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account
§ 9031. Short title
This chapter may be cited as the Presidential Primary Matching
Payment Account Act・
§ 9032. Definitions

. . .

(6) The term “Matching payment period” means the period
beginning with the beginning of the calendar year in which a general
election for the office of President of the United States will be held
and ending on the date on which the national convention of the party
whose nomination a candidate seeks nominates its candidate for the
office of President of the United States, or, in the case of a party
which does not make such nomination by national convention, ending
on the earlier of—
(A) the date such party nominates its candidate for the
office of President of the United States, or
(B) the last day of the last national convention held by a
major party during such calendar year.