BREAKING NEWS!! LR EXCLUSIVE!

From Eric Dondero:

The Libertarian Party of Illinois handed in over 48,000 signatures for ballot access in late June. The required number of signatures was 25,000. Other parties, for example the Constitution Party, handed in only 35,000. The Green Party already has ballot status as a result of an 8% showing by their candidate for Governor in 2006.

The signatures were challenged immediately. Illinois is a challenge state. If any citizen or group challenges the signatures of the third party, that party must undergo a grueling process of line-by-line signature validation, and hearings in front of an election board to justify signatures that may be unclear, or have disputed addresses.

Last week at one of these hearings, a representative for the challengers revealed that he was a campaign volunteer for moderate Republican nominee for Governor Bill Brady.

National Chairman for the Republican Liberty Caucus, which represents the libertarian wing of the GOP, has released this statement to Libertarian Republican in regards to the Illinois situation:

"Ballot access for candidates and parties is as important to having an open and honest political system as it is for voters to have equal access to the polls. If a political party is so unsure of the its ability to win votes legitimately that it has to manipulate the system to deny its competitors fair access to the ballot then it has forfeited its right to represent the people. Republicans and Democrats should welcome the challenge offered by third parties and embrace the challenge to win elections on their merits rather than their incumbency."

Lex Green is the Illinois Libertarian candidate for Governor against Bill Brady. Ironically, both Brady and Green are from Bloomington (in Central Illinois, 2 hours south of Chicago). In fact, Green's wife Karen is a local Republican Precinct Committeewoman in Bloomington, and knows the Bradys. The Greens lean to the conservative side of the libertarian spectrum and are both what could be described as "cultural Republicans." Lex Green is a "Ron Paul type" constitutionalist Libertarian. He has been emphasizing budgetary cutbacks, spending reforms, and tax relief in his campaign.

Brady is viewed with suspicion amongst hardline conservatives throughout the state, particularly those who were supporters of Tea Party candidate Adam Andrzejewski, who came in 4th in the GOP primary.

Important Note - The RLC as a standard policy, does not endorse Libertarian Party candidates in any race, where there is a Republican candidate on the ballot. However, the RLC explicitly endorses and urges support among its membership for only those Republicans who have demonstrated definitive libertarian-leanings, and friendly relations with the libertarian movement.