Can Al Gore delegates still go to the Dem Convention - even if Al is undeclared?

[RiverStone]

I'm not a political science major, so thanks in advance for your wisdom on this. :hi:

Lets assume Al never declares any intention to run for President. Is it theoretically possible to send delegates in his name to the Dem Convention in Denver next August?

In that way, even in absentia, Al could still effect the Party Platform. He could have a hand in shaping our agenda and response to the GOP a year from now. There is also the distant possibility of a brokered convention (where delegates abandon their commitment), but that seems an unlikely scenario.

In some way, shape, or form - Al Gore will hold sway at the convention! I'm wondering if sending a contingent of delegates in his name is one of those ways?

[MonkeyFunk]

1. I don't see how

delegates are (largely) elected during the primaries. If Gore doesn't run in any primaries, he won't get any delegates.

[RiverStone]

3. But if his name is on the ballots...

Per many draft Gore petitions, people could still vote for him.

Or maybe Al would have to "agree" to be on the ballot?

[MonkeyFunk]

4. I think it varies by state

but I doubt he'll end up on any ballots if he doesn't run.

[kimmerspixelated]

7. Hey,Hey hey!

Maybe that's it! DING DING DING!! Could that be his real plan? The stealth is to be greatly admired! That way, he can be a candidate, and yet not be on THEIR tightropey, restrictive campaign rules!

[northzax]

2. most states require

that the delegates elected in the primary or the caucus vote for the person they are committed to through at least the first ballot. so no.

[SoCalDem]

5. How would he get delegates, if he's not running? n/t

[RiverStone]

6. Like this:

California Draft Gore Poised to Put Gore's Name on Ballot

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 26 -- Organizers of California Draft Gore, a grassroots campaign to put Al Gore's name on the California presidential primary ballot, announced today that the campaign has volunteers located in or assigned to all of the state's 53 congressional districts.

Originally convening on websites like algore.org, meetup.com, savethewhitehouse.com and draftgore.com, California Gore supporters quickly built the infrastructure necessary to take advantage of the California Election Code, which allows for a candidate's name to be placed on the ballot if at least 500 registered Democrats' signatures are obtained from each of the state's congressional districts.

"In less than sixty days we have filled almost all of the campaign coordinator positions," said Patrick McGovern, the Los Angeles regional campaign coordinator. "With estimates of over 1,000 volunteers statewide, we are a broad cross-section of Californians."

One of the first of many Gore '08 groups to move beyond petitions and pleas, the California campaign's well-organized grassroots volunteers are optimistic about its chance of success. California Election Code allows signatures to be collected from October 8th through December 4th, and Berkeley campaign coordinator Gabi Baty believes that the campaign will meet that deadline because "we have people ready to hit the ground running."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20070926/pl_usnw/california_draft_gore_poised_to_put_gore_s_name_on_ballot

[kimmerspixelated]

8. I LOVE IT!

[book_worm]

9. yes, if he actually wins any delegates in the primaries/caucuses even tho he isn't running

they can still go to the convention.

[RiverStone]

10. then could this happen? ... (per Wiki)

<snip>

Before the presidential nomination season actually begins, there is often speculation about whether a single front runner would emerge. If there is no single candidate receiving a majority of delegates at the end of the primary season, a scenario called a brokered convention would result, where a candidate would be selected either at or near the convention, through political horse-trading and lesser candidates compelling their delegates to vote for one of the front runners. The situation is more likely to occur in the Democratic Party, because of its proportional representation system,<1> although such a scenario was suggested for Republicans in 1996 until Bob Dole dominated in actual voting.<2> It is a common scenario in fiction, most recently in an episode of The West Wing. The closest to a brokered convention was at the 1976 Republican National Convention, when Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan each did not receive enough votes in the primary to lock up the nomination.<3> Since then, candidates have received enough momentum to reach a majority through pledged and bound delegates before the date of the convention.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_nominating_convention

ON EDIT: Imagine the draft Gore folks are VERY successful getting Al's name on a number of state ballots. I know in my state (Washington) they are trying and I WOULD VOTE FOR AL if I saw his name there. What if he won a big bunch? That could really upset the donkey cart (pun intended).