John McCain,  President 2008

President 2008 Watch: California GOP to Allow Independent Voters to Vote in GOP Presidential Primary Election?

March 7, 2007 /

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California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, listens as U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks as they take a helicopter tour of the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007, over Los Angeles.

Washington Times: McCain seeks independents’ primary votes

Sen. John McCain’s campaign is mounting a stealth effort to change Republican presidential nomination rules in California to allow independents to vote in the Feb. 5 primary, party and campaign officials in the state have told The Washington Times.

The impact could be huge — and potentially damaging to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, currently the most acceptable to traditional-values voters among the three top-tier Republican presidential candidates.

“If California changes its delegate selection rules to allow independent voters to participate in the Republican primary, it would be very helpful for McCain and for Rudy Giuliani, who historically have done very well among independent voters,” Federal Election Commissioner Michael E. Toner said.

This is a PIPE DREAM for McCain. And Rudy doesn’t care because he leads in the California polls big time anyway and doesn’t need independent votes until the general election.

So, why plant the story?

To make the GOP look like an exclusionary club?

You betcha….

The California GOP Presidential rules are set and this was stated as such by Ron Nehring, newly elected California GOP Chairman:

“We just completed our last state convention before the RNC’s June deadline for states to submit their delegate selection rules. Those rules are set as far as I’m concerned. Candidates should focus their efforts on persuading California Republicans they are the most qualified to provide the vision and leadership to carry the party’s banner in 2008.”

The members of the California State GOP will not change the rules at its September convention.

Won’t happen……

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