Proposed Loyalty Oath Hurts Interest In Virginia GOP Primary

[NNN0LHI]

http://wamu.org/news/12/03/05/proposed_loyalty_oath_hurts_interest_in_virginia_gop_primary

By: Matt Laslo // March 5, 2012

Turnout is expected to be low in Virginia's GOP presidential contest, because only two candidates made the ballot. Some voters are also reportedly turned off by a debate in the commonwealth over whether to require a loyalty oath from primary voters.

Virginia has an open primary, so Democrats and Independents can weigh in on tomorrow's Republican contest. To dissuade mischief, officials debated requiring a loyalty oath of support for the party's eventual nominee. The idea was eventually rejected, but many voters say the debate over the oath soured them and makes them want to sit the contest out. Some voters say they still think it's being required, but Virginia Republican Morgan Griffith says he doesn't think the misinformation will have a major impact.

"I think they misunderstood it," says Griffith. "The oath never said, 'You are locked in you have to do it.' It said your intent when you vote in the Republican primary is to support the Republican candidate. Well that's a question of whether or not you're being honest. If you intend to vote for Barack Obama you shouldn't be there in the first place."

[southernyankeebelle]

1. Funny how republicans play this game. It's ok that republicans play the game but democrats can't.