OntheWilderSide

KW notes: In New York State, to remain a ballot-access party, a party must get 50,000 votes for Governor. So, if the Working Families Party has no candidate, or a candidate who does not succeed at the goal for Governor, WFP may fail to be a party. This would change the landscape a lot in New York third party politics, and NY politics overall.

As posted by Trent Hill at Independent Political Report:

From the New York Daily News comes a report that the Working Families Party is considering asking actor Alec Baldwin to run for Governor of New York on their ballot line.

The Working Families Party is so panicked a federal probe might keep Andrew Cuomo from accepting its ballot line in November, leaders are quietly mulling replacement candidates – even floating “30 Rock” star Alec Baldwin.

The labor-backed party will seek a “superstar” liberal to head its ticket if Cuomo declines its support, according to sources with knowledge of its plans.

The stakes are high: The party, which was flush with success only last year, needs to get 50,000 votes or else it loses its place on the ballot in the future.

Baldwin has previously expressed interest in running for Governor of New York, but later on the article Baldwin’s spokesperson said a statewide run was not likely.

“It’s flattering that people recognize Alec’s strong sense of the issues, political perspectives, popularity and passion for New York,” Hiltzik said. “But no, he has no current plans to run for office. But who knows what may happen in the future?”

The Working Families Party has been plagued by scandal involving it’s for-profit elections business, Data and Field Services.

Filed under: 3rd party, Ballot issues, election, Election 2010, elections, local, New York State Politics, News, politics, progressive politics, third party Tagged: | Alec Baldwin, Governor, NY Governor, Working Families Party