SPRINGFIELD - During the final minutes before 5:00 PM at the State Board of Elections Friday, there was an avalanche of objections filed against presidential candidates and their delegates, placing contenders Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum's March 20th GOP primary candidacies in jeopardy. Barack Obama's petitions face two official challenges, as well.
At about 4:35 PM, Romney alternate delegate Sherri Griffith of the 1st CD filed an objection to Santorum's delegate slate in the 1st CD, led by Eric Wallace. Ten of Santorum's delegates filed less than the minimum required number of petition signatures. Subsequently, one by one, Romney delegates or alternates filed objections to Santorum slates in their respective congressional districts.
In return, Santorum's Illinois coordinator Jon Zahm filed objections to Paul, Romney, Perry and Gingrich's petitions. Another objection to Barack Obama's petitions and several other candidates were added, all within the final 30 minutes before the 5:00 PM deadline.
Hearings will be scheduled and held to hear the objectors complaints, and a ruling on each will determine whether or not the opposed candidacies will be upheld.
