N.C. parties name choices for May vote

RALEIGH (Winston-Salem Journal) - The North Carolina Democratic and Republican parties want a combined eight presidential candidates on their ballots for the state’s May 6 primary elections.

The Democratic Party asked state election officials yesterday to list Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and Mike Gravel, a former U.S. senator from Alaska, on the party’s ballot.

The Republican Party wants Mike Huckabee, Alan Keyes, John McCain, Ron Paul and Mitt Romney.

State law required the major parties to make their requests by yesterday. The lists are supposed to include candidates who are generally advocated and recognized in the state or nationally.

The elections board will approve the candidate lists March 4. Some candidates could be removed if they drop out of the race. Others may be added if a candidate collects more than 10,000 petition signatures.