Constitution Party presidential candidate Virgil Goode filed papers at the State Board of Elections office in Raleigh on Monday afternoon to qualify as a write-in candidate in this year’s election. Signatures of 500 registered voters are required for his write-in votes to be counted.

Goode, a former Virginia congressman, said he hopes to be a presidential option on about 40 state ballots and intends to pull support from both major party presidential candidates.

“I think when the American public wakes up and sees that there’s one candidate out there that’s for jobs for the average citizen, that’s me,” Goode told reporters at Board of Elections headquarters. “I won’t be on TV probably at all, but it’s a chance for grassroots Americans to have a grassroots candidate.”

Goode talked about cracking down on illegal immigration and strictly limiting legal immigration. He wants “nearly a complete moratorium” on issuing green cards that allow people from other counties to become permanent residents and work in the United States.

Goode served six terms in Congress: as a Democrat, an independent, and a Republican.

The Constitution Party’s platform says compulsory school attendance laws should be repealed; that votes should be counted by hand; that federal wetlands laws and the Endangered Species Act should be repealed and Social Security phased out.

Goode said he doesn’t agree with everything in the platform.

Compulsory education is a matter for the states, Goode said, and he wants the federal Department of Education abolished. The Endangered Species Act and a number of wetlands laws are overly restrictive, he said.

On counting ballots by hand, he said, “Personally I prefer paper ballots over computerized voting, but again, that’s a decision for the states to make,” he said.

A call for young Republicans

George P. Bush, a member of one of America’s most famous political families, was in Raleigh Monday night to push a new political committee designed to encourage young Republican candidates.

Bush, son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, held a fundraiser/organizational meeting for Maverick PAC at Sullivan’s steak house. He plans to create a chapter in North Carolina.

The group plans to help state Sen. David Rouzer in his effort to unseat 7th District Democratic incumbent Mike McIntyre and is looking at two other congressional races as well.

“We are looking for candidates that reflect our values,” Bush said in a brief interview at Snoopy’s, the hot dog grill which has become a favorite Republican venue since the owner last week put out a sign criticizing President Barack Obama.

“Most of our members are young professionals,” Bush said, concentrating on those 45 and younger. “We are looking for the next generation of Republican leaders.”

Bush, who lives in Austin, Texas, has traveled the country organizing in the 10 battleground states won by Obama but which his uncle George W. Bush won. He is also looking at additional states as well.

Judd stumps for Obama

Actress Ashley Judd hosted a “Women for Obama” summit in Charlotte on Sunday, telling those gathered that he “has done a very, very good for girls, women and families in this country,” according to The Charlotte Observer.

Judd brought her poodle/spaniel Buttermilk to the Obama headquarters in uptown and said she would knock on doors in the state if the campaign asked her to. If not, she’ll be back in September for the Democratic National Convention as an at-large delegate from Tennessee.

Staff writers Lynn Bonner and Rob Christensen

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