VP candidate for Independent (2012)
Running mate with nominee: Michael Vargo (b. ca1965)
Popular vote: 63 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
Mike Vargo, a high social studies teacher in Centerburg, Ohio, made an effort to gain access to the ballot of his home state. One news account said he started his campaign as a class project. His petition was rejected due to lack of listing a Vice-President, so he ran as a registered write-in with Jeff Angeletti.
Vargo's platform was short and vague--
Presidential Platform:
Cut wasteful spending in the budget
Reform the tax code
Reduce the deficit
Promote the growth of small businesses and the economy
Stand for what is right for the United States of America both at home and abroad
Defend life and liberty
Uphold justice and morality
Vargo's campaign website included this introduction--
This is Mike Vargo, Barberton High School Class of 1983 and Centerburg, Ohio High School social studies teacher since 1994. I have decided to run as an Independent for President of the United States in 2012. My plans are to cut the budget, especially wasteful spending, and reform the tax code to make it more fair to all.
I plan on promoting the growth of small businesses and jobs and to the best of my ability upholding a strong moral and ethical standard for my administration and this great nation of ours. I have until August 8, 2012 to file the necessary paperwork to have my name appear on the Ohio Presidential ballot in November. One of the requirements is to obtain a minimum of 5,000 signatures of Ohio registered voters. I have a long way to go on this but am confident that with your help I can obtain these necessary signatures. I ask for your support in helping me get my name on the ballot and bringing attention to my campaign.
I believe America is being ripped apart by the greed of two political parties whose goal is to keep power for themselves and cater to the selfish interests of those who bankroll them rather than to do what is best for our country. We are led to believe that unless we vote for one of the two major party candidates, who has millions of dollars in backing, we have wasted our vote. It is my intent to prove that a person needs neither millions of dollars nor political party affiliation to be able to step up and do what is right to lead this nation. While lobbyists with deep pockets dictate political party agendas, my platform will be grounded in doing what is best for the United States of America and its people.
I ask that you stand with me so that we can all stand up together for our great nation and that our great nation may always stand tall in our righteous might while continuing to lead the free world.
Although a former Democrat positioning himself as a centrist, Vargo revealed a decided Right-wing bias when he said his first choice for a running-mate was Fox television political entertainment pundit Bill O'Reilly, "his opinions are based on facts, not party ideology ... He was my first choice because I don't believe he's for either party."
In the event of a Vargo/Angeletti victory, I suspect they would have encountered a problem with the Constitution since the odds are high that Angeletti, a longtime friend of Vargo's, was also a resident of Ohio.
Election history: ?
Other occupations: ?
Notes:
Another mystery VP.
