Frustrated by the gridlock in Washington, a well-funded bipartisan group of activists and political professionals plans to give voters a third choice for president in 2012.
They want to choose a candidate through a national nominating process on the Internet, and have the candidate prequalified for the ballot in all 50 states. The blueprint calls for the presidential candidate to choose a running mate from another party - or no party at all.
While some of the organizers were behind a similar effort in 2008 that collapsed for lack of funding, this new group has raised 10 times as much money - more than $20 million - and is confident it can pull it off.
“This is a way to blow up the status quo,’’ said Mark McKinnon, a veteran media strategist. McKinnon is a volunteer adviser to Americans Elect, an 18-month-old advocacy group that is emerging with its plans for a second way to choose a president.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2011/11/13/web_primary_aims_to_find_third_option_for_president/?p1=News_links
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