Considering both Newt and Perry had at minimum a 20% buffer on the signatures they needed, we need to learn more about who was behind validating the signatures or collecting them. Something fishy is going on.
The official
VRP page proudly states:
"After verification, RPV has determined that Newt Gingrich did not submit required 10k signatures and has not qualified for the VA primary."
Then, ironically, it cheerfully advertises a "Grassroots breakfast and meet and greet with SPECIAL GUEST former Speaker, Newt Gingrich:"
And their rotating ad banner ends it with a "Not again in VA" message:
Yeah, Not again in Va! You betcha. These yahoos should get their act together pronto!
I'd like to see a few thousand grassroots conservatives and tea party people cheerfully "occupy" their offices.
The VA GOP requires not only 10,000 signatures, but of those there must be at least 400 signatures from each of the 11 districts. It is a provision that requires either lots of volunteers or money to get that job done covering the whole state. It is a horrendous requirement, but in my opinion the entire GOP primary process is loaded to promote the "establishment" candidate.
Romney will be that candidate and this "independent" conservative will be playing golf on election day.