Well, this could be big.
From a RalstonFlash e-alert about 20 minutes ago:
Tea Party qualifies as third party in Nevada, will have candidate in U.S. Senate race
The party has filed a Certificate of Existence but still needs to get 1 percent of the electorate to vote for one candidate in November to permanently qualify. Sources confirm that candidate is named Jon Ashjian and he will be on the ballot as a U.S. Senate candidate in November as he has collected the requisite 250 signatures (barely, as only 253 were verified as valid out of the 505 he submitted). He still must file a declaration of candidacy in March.
This could be a huge development in the Senate race because if the contest is close, Ashjian could pull substantial votes from the GOP nominee. (I wonder who the first GOP hopeful will be to accuse Harry Reid of being behind this.)
You can see the party’s Constitution, bylaws and officers here — Las Vegas attorney Barry Levinson is the Tea Party’s secretary.
There are six other third-party candidates now going through the verification process to appear on the ballot as U.S. Senate candidates — one Reform Party hopeful and five as independents.
Others trying to appear on the ballot as third-party hopefuls in the Year of the Independents include Reno City Councilman Dave Aiazzi, running for the Washoe County Commission, and Barry Michaels, who is in the CD3 race.
