Gingrich, Bachman, Santorum, Perry Give Romney a Christmas Gift: Failed to Qualify for Virginia Ballot!

During the last Presidential campaign, I was in charge of the entire state of Tennessee’s Romney delegation — overseeing our nine Congressional districts that encompass  ninety-five counties. (Read about me going into a bar with my petition here during hte last cycle, when a fight over the war broke out!) Every state has different legal requirements, which makes it an organizational feat to get on the ballot in every state.  This year, after having adopted a sweet baby girl from Africa, I wasn’t able to take an organizational role in the process.  However, I was asked to represent him in the fourth Congressional district, along with my husband again.  And so, for months, I went around Tennessee with some pens, a smile, and a clipboard with Gov. Romney’s name at the top, trying to make sure his name could legally appear on the ballot in the great state of Tennessee.

I assumed there were other poor delegates out there doing the same thing for their guy… nervously clearing their throat, hesitating to bring it up to their friends, sticking their ballots in their purses in case an appropriate moment in conversation presented itself. I told myself if I met someone trying to collect signatures with Rick Perry’s name on it, or Newt’s, or Paul’s, that I’d sign their petitions.  After all, we need to be able to select from a wide range of options, right?

Imagine my surprise when I woke up to find out this:

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has failed to qualify for Virginia’s March 6 Republican primary, a development that complicates his bid to win the GOP presidential nomination. “After verification, RPV has determined that Newt Gingrich did not submit required 10k signatures and has not qualified for the VA primary,” the Republican Party of Virginia announced early Saturday on its Twitter website. Texas Gov. Rick Perry also fell short of the 10,000 signatures of registered voters required for a candidate’s name to be on the primary ballot, but former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul will be on the ballot. . .

(via FoxNews, via NRO)

I honestly can’t believe they neglected to cross their t’s and dot their i’s.  And we’re expected to believe they’re competent enough for the White House?

Gingrich’s new campaign motto: I Can’t Run a Campaign, Just My Mouth.

So, this means that there are only two options for Virginia Republicans: Ron Paul or Mitt Romney.  Newt and  Perry couldn’t gather the required 10,000 signatures, and Rick Santorum and Michelle Bachmann may not have even submitted a petition in the first place.

Guys, this is a clarifying moment.  And not just for Virginians.