Alan Keyes

As Barack Obama’s presidential campaign weighs whether to ask U.S. Rep. Mark Udall to introduce Obama on Thursday night, it’s worth noting that four years ago, it was the spotlight on the State Senator from Chicago that catapulted him onto the national political arena.  In 2004, Obama was a candidate for an open U.S. Senate seat in a race where his Republican opponent had dropped out.  The GOP was searching for a top-tier replacement – ex-Chicago Bears football coach Mike Ditka considered it – but his keynote address scared away the opposition; in the end, the best Illinois Republicans could do was perennial presidential candidate Alan Keyes. 

A group of Pennsylvania residents concerned about U.S. Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) stance on abortion is trying to put former GOP presidential candidate Alan Keyes on the ballot.

The Waymart-based Pennsylvania chapter of Keyes For President needs a little fewer than 25,000 signatures to make him the presidential candidate for the American Independent Party, according to Paul Curtis, the organization's leader. It has worked since mid-May to reach the goal, although it had to jump through parliamentary hoops for a month before it could actually begin collecting signatures.

Now Paul said group members are working feverishly to meet the Aug. 1 deadline as part of nationwide effort on behalf of Keyes, going door-to-door and sending e-mails to drum up support.

You could be Alan Keyes.