Americans Elect Has No one to Elect

By Staff | May 15, 2012

So many Americans woud answer no, so what was the stumbling block for Americans Elect?

The non-profit organization looking to shake-up the American political system with a centrist third-party candidate is currently without anyone Americans can elect.

Despite media attention, and successfully making it onto the ballot in 27 states, the well-funded group has admitted that perhaps the complexity of their online nomination process played a part in there being no nominee.

No candidate for president? Sounds more like game-over than game-change.

So, since Americans Elect failed to generate enough interest to push any single candidate over the threshold, according to the rules ratified by delegates, the primary process ends today. CEO Kahlil Byrd, however, seemed to leave open the option for proceeding outside the original process. In other words, bending the rules:

There is, however, an almost universal desire among delegates, leadership and millions of Americans who have supported AE to see a credible candidate emerge from this process.

To build a bi-partisan ticket that would break the partisan hold of the two major parties is a bold idea. And with prominent backers like former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman and Manhattan private equity tycoon Peter Ackerman, the battle is far from over.

The group will be discussing its options with its “community.” We’ll be watching to see what they come up with? My guess? They wrote new rules once, why not one more time? The failure to put a name on the ballot would not only be a significant blow to the movement, but a blow to the idea that we can change the entrenched system.