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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Is Phil Hart Really Finished?

An insider offers these thoughts about Rep. Phil Hart's loss in the GOPrimary Tuesday -- and a possible resurrection as an Independent candidate: "In my opinion Hart and Vieselmeyer were getting their votes from the same group of people to a large extent.  The result was that Hart's vote was split and Morse won the Republican nomination.  Hart and Vieselmeyer's combined votes would have exceeded the Morse votes.  I see no way that Morse would have received many of the votes that were cast for Hart or Vieselmeyer had either Hart or Vieselmeyer not run. ... Now, however, the question arises, 'Will Hart run as an independent?' If so Hart could still win, or  split the vote and assure a victory for Democrat Dan English. I fail to see how Hart is tied much to the Republican Party.  Maybe he will see this as an opportunity to turn his loss into a victory for Constitutionalists.  He might win as an independent and then, declare himself to be a Constitutionalist, which is what he has been all along.  Worse yet, he could get his Ron Paul supporters on the Republican Central Committee, to make him Chairman.  I hear Tina Jacobson is tired of the job."

  • Wiseguy: "Hart can only run as a write-in not as a Independent. Not a chance."

Thoughts?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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