Neighbor of Nicholas C. Kratsas
VP candidate for Truth and Freedom Party (1988)
Running mate with nominee: Nicholas C. Kratsas (1919-2001)
Popular vote: 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
Nick C. Kratsas created the Truth and Freedom Party and ran for President as a write-in to bring attention to what he called "Notch Babies." These were the 12 million or so US retirees born between 1917-1921 who had earned fewer Social Security credits than others. He felt this demographic was being short-changed, "I call it the best-kept secret in the world." Social Security spokespeople disagreed with him, so at least his campaign did elicit some kind of official response.
Kratsas was a 69-year old part-time security guard for a campus dormitory at Youngstown State University in Ohio at the time, which means he was born in 1919. He actually retired from being a maintenance worker for Allegheny County, Penn. in 1981 but took his new job as a way to make ends meet. "I know your average person my age should be thinking about rocking chairs instead of running for office. I'm going to go as far as I can with it."
Concerned with being seen as a single issue candidate, Kratsas said, "I have a platform. They're not going to catch me without a platform. I've even got women's lib in there."
In one of the most mysterious VP nominations of all, one newspaper merely said that Kratsas "had signed up a neighbor as a running mate."
He told the press his "official" announcement would be after Christmas, 1987. As I have yet to locate any news coverage of his campaign after that date so it is possible he chose not to forge ahead.
Kratsas had a goal of reaching 10 million votes, but the number of his write-ins in Ohio apparently never made the historical radar. Being residents of the same state would have proven to been a Constitutional problem in the event the Truth and Freedom Party ticket had won.
Election history: ?
Other occupations: ?
Buried: ?
Notes:
Anyone out there know the identity of this running mate or have more information?
