|  Michael
Badnarik didn't plan to run for president. As the Texas resident and
Constitutional scholar tells it, after he spoke at a local Libertarian
Party meeting in early 2003, he got a call from a friend who was so
impressed by the speech that he urged Badnarik to seek the highest office
in the land. The friend said Badnarik had a "unique ability to
explain the Libertarian philosophy in a way that makes sense to people."
"My initial reaction was refusal," Badnarik told LP News
(April 2003). But after mulling over the idea, Badnarik changed his
mind, and decided that a presidential campaign would be a good forum
to point out that "much, if not most, of what our government does
is unconstitutional."
Badnarik announced his campaign for president at a press conference
at the state Capitol in Austin, Texas on February 8, 2003 -- and promised
to work to "light the flames of liberty one heart at a time."
Over the next 16 months, he campaigned in 30 states and attended 26
state Libertarian Party conventions. He was widely considered a long
shot in the race, trailing his major competitors -- syndicated radio
talk show host Gary Nolan and former Hollywood producer Aaron Russo
-- in straw polls and primary votes.
However, the campaign peaked at the right time -- on May 31 at the Libertarian
National Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. After dazzling the delegates
in a three-way presidential debate, Badnarik finished in an almost-dead
heat with Nolan and Russo on the first ballot, and surged to victory
on the third ballot. "Nobody on that floor was more astounded than
I was," he told the Washington Times (June 2, 2004). "All
I was hoping for was a large enough percentage of delegates so that
I could go home without being embarrassed."
In an emotional acceptance speech, Badnarik said, "Never in my
wildest dreams! If I can win the Libertarian nomination, there's no
reason I can't win this election. We have a unique opportunity to change
the world." (In a separate vote, delegates chose Iowa attorney
Richard Campagna as the party's vice presidential candidate.)
Over the next five months, Badnarik's presidential campaign raised about
$1 million, and he earned a spot on the ballot in 48 states (plus DC).
The campaign ran television advertisements on CNN and Fox News, and
on local stations in Wisconsin, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona. In
September 2004, Badnarik's campaign book, Good To Be King: The Foundation
of Our Constitutional Freedom, was expanded and republished. On
October 8, 2004, Badnarik was arrested -- along with Green Party presidential
candidate David Cobb -- in an act of civil disobedience in Saint Louis,
Missouri. The two were protesting their exclusion from the presidential
debates, and were arrested after crossing a police barricade.
On Election Day, Badnarik won 397,027 votes (0.34% of the popular vote),
according to Ballot Access News. He placed fourth, behind Republican
George W. Bush, Democrat John Kerry, and independent Ralph Nader.
In December 2004, Badnarik and Cobb, citing election irregularities,
demanded a recount of the vote in Ohio. "I don't believe the vote
count will change dramatically," Fred Collins, Badnarik's campaign
chair, told LP News (January 2005). "But this will go
a long way toward making sure that votes will be counted accurately
in the future." Badnarik and Cobb later alleged that county election
boards didn't follow proper recount procedures, and filed another lawsuit.
A U.S. District judge threw out the lawsuit in February 2006, ruling
that Ohio's slow recount -- which was completed 15 days after the Electoral
College made Bush's election official -- applied only to the 2004 election,
and had no effect on future elections. Badnarik and Cobb also filed
a lawsuit in New Mexico, after they paid $114,400 for a recount but
the state refused. As of February 2006, the State Supreme Court had
not ruled on the case.
Before his foray into presidential politics, Badnarik had twice run
for office as a Libertarian: In 2002, in a three-way race for the Texas
state legislature (District 48), he won 1,075 votes (2.2%). In 2000,
in a two-way race in District 47, he won 15,221 votes (16.9%).
Born in Hammond, Indiana in 1954, Badnarik attended Indiana University
in Bloomington. Professionally, he has worked as a senior trainer and
consultant for Evolutionary Technologies International (1997-2001),
a programmer and trainer for Pacific Gas and Electric (1987-1997), a
system analyst on the Stealth Bomber project for Northrop Corporation
(1985-1987), and a senior programmer for Commonwealth Edison (1977-1985).
Since 2001, he has taught an 8-hour class on the Constitution.
In his spare time, Badnarik is a skydiving instructor, and enjoys camping,
sailing, mountain climbing, hang-gliding, and shooting. He has done
volunteer work for the Boy Scouts and the American Red Cross, and is
a member of the Free State Project.
In August 2005, Badnarik announced he would run in 2006 for U.S. House
in Texas (10th Congressional District).
--
Bill Winter
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