Meet Hector Maldonado. He is running for Senate in Missouri. The likely Democratic nominee is Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan. Carnahan just demanded that Maldonado, 38, a naturalized citizen and Army veteran, prove his citizenship in order to be placed on the ballot. Maldonado did, supplying documents which by state law can be reviewed by the public. Maldonado asked Carnahan to do the same for Barack Obama.
You can see where this is headed.
Snicker if you want, but Maldonado now has very interesting standing to sue the state Secretary of State if she does not ask the same of all candidates she puts on the state ballot. Think Missouri Dems are looking forward to that? Think the DNC wants to try to party down in St. Louis with Maldonado and his substantive demand in the background? By 2012 he might even get a real actual judicial opinion.
A minor, outside thing to be sure, but St. Louis is the only real competition — I think — Charlotte has for this deal. All the angles will be worked — including the potential for the host city to embarrass the bringer of Hope and Change.
