Carol Miller on her “Favorite Daughter” candidacy in New Mexico
New Year Update January 2004
Carol Miller Campaign Seeking Favorite Person* Status GPNM Presidential
Primary
A year of decisions
In February 2003, I was honored to receive a letter from the USGP
Presidential Exploratory Committee stating that I had been among the names
submitted by the states as a potential candidate for President of the United
States. Since that time, I have been thinking about my role in the 2004
Presidential Election.
In May of 2003, I announced to the statewide Green Council of the GPNM that
I was considering a Ofavorite daughterą run in the NM Presidential Primary.
I grew up in a state that often sent a favorite son to presidential
nominating conventions. Favorite son delegates were used to leverage the
selection of the President and Vice-President nominees, revisions to the
platform, and committee chairmanships. Since the money primary has become
the deciding factor of the duopoly, the practice of sending favorite sons
(and daughters) has died out.
Since Peter Camejo was placed on the California Primary Ballot our largest
state with the most delegates now has a Favorite Person group. Favorite
person campaigns are good for the Green Party.
I encourage other states to run and send favorite sons and daughters to the
Presidential Nominating Convention in Milwaukee in June 2004.
The advantage of a delegate campaign gives each state the ability to kick
off a presidential campaign today, get our platform and values out into the
public, to stand up for the national and global vision of the Green
movement. Not in June, but today.
Under New Mexico law, the Presidential primary is actually an election for
convention delegates with the percentage of votes won being equal to the
percentage of the delegates each candidate will have at the convention for
the first ballot. After the first ballot, those votes are in play and can go
to any candidate or to no candidate (NOTA). By running as a favorite
daughter, I am asking members of the GPNM to trust me to represent their
votes at the Convention.
Running in one state versus running nationally
Many wonderful Greens throughout the country have been urging me to become a
national candidate and run for the nomination in every state. It is hard to
describe what a great an honor this is. Greens are hungry for a candidate to
whole-heartedly support. I believe that Ralph Nader is that candidate and
following in the foot steps of Peter Camejo, I will pledge my delegates to a
Draft Nader effort at the convention.
I believe we have to run full out, all out in every election cycle
especially in 2004. We have to spread the word about disarming US WMD,
universal health care, a living wage, social justice, ending the
incarceration of 2 million in the US and on and on.
With adequate notice and some financial assistance, I am available to make
the case for running and to articulate our values.
To contact the Favorite Person committee email carolmiller@newmexico.com
* FAVORITE SON. Noun: A man favored for nomination as a presidential
candidate by his own state delegates at a national political convention.
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
(NOTE: Neither Favorite Daughter or Favorite Person are in the dictionary.)
