The leading Republican candidate to replace scandal-scarred Rep. Bob Ney (news, bio, voting record) on the November ballot may be ineligible, party officials said Tuesday, complicating GOP efforts to assure a smooth transition for the fall campaign.
"As far as I know, I have a green light," said state Sen. Joy Padgett, as party lawyers reviewed a state law that bars politicians who lose one primary from entering another one during the same year.
The developments came one day after Ney announced he would abandon his race for re-election, acting under pressure from party officials who feared the loss of his seat. The six-term lawmaker has come under scrutiny for his ties to Jack Abramoff, a lobbyist at the center of a congressional corruption scandal.
Ney has not been charged, and denies all wrongdoing.
In stepping down, Ney threw his support to Padgett, who also said she had been encouraged by House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, to run.
One Republican strategist, speaking on condition of anonymity, said lawyers had concluded Padgett was likely covered by the so-called political sore loser's law and thus would not be eligible to run. ...
RAW Meanwhile Delay is forced to stay on the ballot because Texas State law pretty clearly doesn't leave much wiggle room. I think we all could agree that an activist judge would have been a good thing hmmn?
