Arizona's Lesser-Known Presidential Candidates
This weekend, early ballots were sent to military and overseas voters who want to participate in Arizona's presidential preference election. But while the ballots will list names like Romney and Santorum, a large group of unfamiliar candidates is also included. From Phoenix, KJZZ's Steve Goldstein reports.
STEVE GOLDSTEIN: Arizona's Presidential Preference Election--or primary--is being officially held on February 28th. The state doesn't make it especially difficult to get on the ballot to be in the mix of names that have been receiving national media coverage, like Mitt Romney or Ron Paul. Interested candidates had to fill out a two-page form, have it notarized and turn it in to the Secretary of State's office. So there are twenty-three Republican candidates for President in Arizona, as MSNBC's Rachel Maddow reported...
RACHEL MADDOW: We learned that, appearing fourth on the Arizona ballot will be Dick Perry, while the perhaps better-known Rick Perry will be listed seventeenth.
STEVE GOLDSTEIN: Dick Perry is better known as southern Arizona musician Al Perry, who got involved through Tucson Weekly's Project White House 2012...
AL PERRY: People have said 'hey, you should run for something, run for Mayor, run for city council.' I'm getting older. I don't have time to run for dogcatcher then school council then city council then Mayor then Governor. I don't have time for that. I'm going to start right at the top with President.
STEVE GOLDSTEIN: Perry realizes some are having fun with the idea of being on a presidential ballot but says he has a serious platform that includes tax reform and campaign finance reform. He also had to re-register as a Republican in order to be eligible to run for President in Arizona, since the Democratic Party isn't holding a primary in the state this year. The last day to register to vote in the Presidential Preference Election is January thirtieth, and you must be registered in the Republican or Green Party. For KJZZ, I'm Steve Goldstein.