THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 7, 1996 TAG: 9603070423
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
President Clinton might have to become a write-in candidate in Virginia if state lawmakers don't change a technicality in election law.
Democrats realized this week that because the Democratic National Convention will be held so late this summer, state law might forbid Clinton and Vice President Al Gore from appearing on the ballot.
The change should be approved easily as a matter of courtesy, legislators said. And state Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Wrenn said Wednesday she thinks she has the power to certify Clinton as the party's candidate regardless of the law.
But she wants to be sure there's no question.
``There can be different interpretations'' of the law, Wrenn said.
The Democratic convention will be Aug. 26-29 in Chicago. State law requires Wrenn to furnish the state election board the name of the Democratic presidential nominee selected at the party convention 74 days before the Nov. 5 election - or Aug. 23. A bill introduced Wednesday would give Democrats an extra week. Kentucky, Missouri and Utah have similar problems. by CNB