Home > Why Isn’t Kerry Using $50M Unspent Campaign Money to Fund Recounts?

Why Isn’t Kerry Using $50M Unspent Campaign Money to Fund Recounts?

by Open-Publishing - Wednesday 17 November 2004
4 comments

Elections-Elected USA

Third-party candidates are requesting recounts in swing states as reports of widespread voting problems and malfunctions in electronic voting machines continue to emerge. Meanwhile, Democratic candidate John Kerry is sitting on over $50 million in unspent campaign funds, which could be used to fund recount efforts. We speak with Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb. President Bush nominated Condoleeza Rice yesterday as he continues to reshape his Cabinet for his second four-year term.

But, controversy continues to rage over the fairness of the November 2 presidential election. Stories are still emerging from states like Ohio, Florida, North Carolina and New Mexico of widespread problems with vote counting, voter suppression and malfunctions of electronic voting machines.

Now three candidates in the 2004 presidential race are demanding recounts. And not one of them is John Kerry.

In New Hampshire, independent candidate Ralph Nader is asking for a recount to test the accuracy of optical scan vote-counting machines. The request covers 11 of the state’s 126 precincts that use Diebold’s Accuvote optical scanning machines to count paper ballots. Backers urged Nader to request a recount after a statistical analysis posted on the Internet appeared to show that some New Hampshire precincts using the machines gave President Bush up to 15 percent more votes than had been expected on the basis of exit polls and the 2000 presidential vote.

Meanwhile, the Green and Libertarian Parties announced they raised $150,000 over the past week, enough to file the required fee for a statewide recount of the vote in Ohio.

While they scrambled to raise the required $150,000 in time to file the recount request, Democratic candidate John Kerry has been sitting on over $50 million in unspent campaign funds. According to the Center for Public Integrity, Kerry could use that money to fund recount efforts.

* David Cobb, a lawyer from Texas. He now lives in California. He is seeking the Green Party nomination for president.

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/11/17/1525203

listen to audio interview

http://play.rbn.com/?url=demnow/demnow/demand/...

Forum posts

  • He’s not going to spend the money, Kerry knows it’s a lost cause. Also he’s going to need all that money to try again in another four years. And he will lose again big time. HA! HA! HA!

  • Have patience, Kerry (and others) IMO have a plan, [The number one way to know there is a plan is there hasn’t yet been widespread riots by the most disenfranchised of this, and last, election. Plus the existence of the Democratic Party is at stake and people do what is most necessary at any moment. ] It’s not too late for anything until the electorial college votes on Dec. 13. If Kerry acts before Congress adjourns for the winter break then Congress will end up choosing the president. So give it a little while. Concerning the $50M, the money for the Re-Vote has to come from some where.

    And if Kerry doesn’t have a plan, the NeoCons(or more accurately Nazis, we are living under the 4th reich. African-Americans are being systematically imprisoned and killed as well as other "non-whites") are doomed to failure. You’ll see a couple of "Waco-style" showdowns and then the "Neo"-Civil War between progressives and the American Fed. Empire will be underway. Then you can grab yourself a re-legalized automatic assault rifle and do away with the neo-con of your choice. [Like the one they hire to post inflammatory comments all around this site. See: previous comment. ] Not to mention you’ll have the support of those who formerly served in the CIA and will take down Bush or whatever fascist dictator/puppet the neo-cons install in the White House.

    So have a little patience and see what happens. Or if you like, plan all your civil actions and be ready to take action after Dec. 13. Either way, quit whining.

    • Well its December 24th...Merry Whatever You Celebrate.
      What do you forsee happening next???
      Yes, Kerry put forth his lawyers to look at the machines.
      BlackboxVoting and the Ohio Freepress guys have done a lot of work filing suites.
      And there are online petitions to Senators to join Congressman Conyer of the Dem house judiciary committee not to accept the electoral votes come January 6th; last chance.
      What a blast if it happens. If Kerry were to UNCONCEDE..the news would have to pick it up.
      Another message here says something is afoot...because Kerry wouldnt make promises he wouldnt keep after such a campaign...I hope to heaven thats so...but it only remains to be seen.
      They are both Bones men...and scarier yet...there have been connections between the Bushies
      and the assassination of JFK...so the new JFK may have to be very careful...even tho Bush and Kerry are also ninth cousins...the Bones Boys are likened to the Mob...that has family infighting.
      I get a kick out of the media calling us Conspiracy nuts...I dont get any joy out of being kicked:o))o. And Watergate took two years to surface and expel Nixon...But Votergate is pretty
      evident...the newsmedia is also implicated in the scam...so heaven knows what will happen IF the poo poo hits the fan. Wishing us ALL THE BEST...if at all possible.

  • The $50 million figure is incorrect. According to Associated Press accounts, the surplus amounted to about $16 million. Granted, a huge and inexplicable amount of reserve funds, but no where near the $50 million that people keep repeating as fact.

    I have no clue what strategy he’s pursuing, but there’s just no way Kerry would put himself through the wringer of running for president only to bail at the first post-election opportunity. Both he and John Edwards made specific promises in their concessions statements that ALL votes would be counted. Something is afoot...