{news} Green Included In Illinois Gubernatorial Poll

[Charlie Pillsbury]

from Ballot Access News:  

Green Included In Illinois Gubernatorial Poll
September 4th, 2006

A neutral poll released on September 4 for Governor of Illinois shows
these results: Democratic 47%, Republican 39%, Green 2%, undecided 12%.
This is the first poll to include the Green Party candidate, Richard
Whitney.

If Whitney does receive 2% in November, it is reasonable to assume that
some of the other statewide Green Party nominees will receive 5%. If one
of the statewide Green Party nominees polls 5%, the Green Party will then
be qualified in 2008 for automatic ballot status, and a primary, for
statewide offices (but not district offices). That would also include a
presidential primary.

In 2002, the Libertarian Party was the only minor party on the Illinois
ballot, just as this year the Greens are the only one. In 2002, the
Libertarians polled 1.65% for Governor, and higher amounts for all the
other statewide offices, including 4.23% for Controller.

The last time a minor party polled 5% for a statewide race in Illinois was
in 1996, when the Reform Party did it.

If the Greens could poll 5% for Governor this year, then they would be a
qualified party in 2008 for all partisan offices, not just statewide
offices.


----------

Bruce Meyer
Colorado