Virgil Goode gets spot on presidential ballot in Virginia
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Conservative former Rep. Virgil Goode will appear on Virginia's presidential ballot after state election officials rejected a Republican-led effort to keep him off. Republicans fear Goode will drain votes from their candidate, Mitt Romney, in a swing state where polls show a deadlocked race.
Virginia's State Board of Elections acted Tuesday after the state GOP challenged Goode's qualifying petitions and sought an independent review.
But the Republican-dominated board also asked Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and the state police to investigate.
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The former congressman is the nominee of the conservative Constitution Party, and has held office as a Democrat, independent and Republican. He lost the seat to Democrat Tom Perriello in 2008.
Goode has called the GOP's action a heavy-handed effort to control ballot access and intimidate third-party participation.