Our man in New Mexico reports that this afternoon the New Mexico supreme court issued a stay of the Bernalillo County court’s ruling kicking Ralph Nader off the New Mexico ballot. The court ordered the New Mexico secretary of state not to destroy the Nader ballots (previously printed) and not to distribute any ballots until the court issues a further order. So as of right now Mr. Nader’s off the New Mexico ballot, but so are President Bush and Senator Kerry.
Meanwhile the Oregon supreme court upheld Secretary of State Bradbury’s decision to invalidate just enough of the Nader petitions to keep Mr. Nader off the Oregon ballot. The Nader campaign will try to attract the attention of the United States Supreme Court to get Mr. Nader on the Oregon ballot.
Even if a majority of the Court would privately like to see Mr. Nader on the ballot under the theory that his presence helps President Bush’s campaign, I predict that the United States Supreme Court will duck the Oregon case rather than intervene in the election before the votes are cast. It’s much more profitable for the butcher to put his thumb on the scale when the customer’s in a hurry and isn’t paying close attention.