Title:
Michigan Libertarians Influence Presidential Race
Author:
MICHAEL BADNARIK
Date:
10/25/2004
Year:
2004
Article:
10/25/2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: NewsRelease@lpmich.org
Libertarian Presidential candidate Michael Badnarik announced a national TV ad campaign at a fundraiser in Farmington Hills Saturday evening. The ads were produced by Communications Consultants of Allen Park with local talent and will be shown over the next week on Fox News Channel cable network and other regional stations throughout the country.
Badnarik’s campaign manager Fred Collins, a Berkley city councilman, said they expected to reach the million dollar threshold in fundraising soon and have already spent $300,000 on television ads in key states, with more to follow.
“We are just getting started” said Collins, who has been in office for seven years. “The Libertarian message is resonating with a lot of young people who have registered to vote for the first time, and independent-leaning Republicans and Democrats who have become disillusioned with their party’s candidates”.
“The radio and TV ads have already had an effect, with Badnarik polling 5% in New Mexico, which was the difference between Bush (43%) and Kerry (48%)”.
This is the most visible Presidential campaign the Libertarians have run to date. Independent candidate Ralph Nader is on the ballot in only 36 states, and may yield the spoiler role to Badnarik this election. Badnarik is on the ballot in 49 states and a write-in candidate in New Hampshire, where ballot status is questionable (including the District of Columbia – www.ballot-access.org ).
Many will be surprised to find seven Presidential candidates on the ballot in Michigan. Only five are on enough ballots to conceivably win or influence the election, with Badnarik the most likely. Whatever the case, Michigan Libertarians will have played a crucial role in this election.
CONTACTS: MICHAEL BADNARIK, Media Coordinator Jeff Frazee (512) 275-6722
FRED COLLINS, Communications Director Stephen Gordon (512) 637-6867
TIM OBRIEN, COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANTS (313) 562-5778
MIKE DONAHUE, LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF MICHIGAN Chair (313) 837-9082
WILL TYLER WHITE, US Congressional candidate, Mich. 8th Dist. (517) 349-3806
