(Peoria, IL) - Seeing if his message would "Play in Peoria", Our Campaigns Presidential candidate Thomas Walker accepted an invitation to attend a birthday dinner in his honor at a Chuck-E-Cheese in this Illinois town.
Walker told the bewildered adults and attentive children that "the upcoming Presidential election at Our Campaigns must be by secret ballot", and he called on the other candidates to join him in this cause.
"One of the true strengths of our democracy is the secret ballot that protects us all from the bullying and intimidation that has been seen in our nation in the past."
Every vote must count. No totals should be released until all the polls have closed. Every vote has value. If one candidate jumps to an early lead, it could unfairly dishearten and deflate another candidates campaign. An early lead becomes a self fulfilling prophesy."
"In 2000, polls were still open in Florida and networks were projecting the winner. In 1980, many Democrats may have lost close contests due to the early returns for Carter. In 2003, Ross Porter and myself ran strong, spirited, honorable and issue driven campaigns (as did our two major opponents), but our support was most probably diminished, as the open ballot showed a close contest between the top two finishers."
"I will be very surprised if the winner of this election garners 50% of the vote. I believe I will win, but with strong challenges from the Republican and Democratic nominees, with Dave and John posting respectable numbers. We all need a fair and open election, and that can only be achieved by the secret ballot, where every vote counts the same, and has the same level of importance."
Walker seemed at ease with the crowd, and comfortable in his environment. This was his type of place, with cheesy greasy tasty food to hold you together and strengthen your body. With a Barqs in one hand (C-E-C didn't have Mountain Dew), and a slice of pizza in the other hand, Walker showed that this was the way to live. This was no lobster and caviar crowd. Likewise, this wasn't the herbalife crowd, the powerbar crowd or the Dr. Atkins crowd - of which their inventors are all dead. In fact, Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Chuck-E-Cheese, came out to lead the singing of Happy Birthday to Walker (along with Chuck of course).
"A secret ballot for a fair and just election. A vote for Walker-Jones is a win for us all."
