Source: Independent Political Report

In the aftermath of the Americans Elect board decision not to nominate a 2012 presidential ticket, the former senior economist of President Ronald Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers and current Boston University economics professor Laurence Kotlikoff, who had sought that organization’s nomination, said in an e-mail that he now no longer wishes to pursue the Reform Party presidential nomination, which he elected to seek last month. He cited the party’s lack of ballot access, which thus far it has attained in only four states: Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, and Kansas.

When asked if this ends his presidential campaign as a whole, Kotlikoff, who writes an economics column for bloomberg.com that was suspended for the duration of his campaign, responded that he “decided to call it quits on running for president.” However, he still hopes to promote The Purple Plans, his campaign platform designed to appeal to Independents, Democrats, and Republicans.

Kotlikoff has advised the Reform Party of his decision, but remains listed on the party website as a candidate along with Buddy Roemer, who ended his own bid last week. The site also lists the following individuals as candidates: consultant Blake Ashby, fitness model Andre Barnett, retired Dow Chemical worker Ed Chlapowski, engineer Kenneth R. Cross, financial adviser Dick McCormick, and estimator Michael Whitley.

The Reform Party National Convention will be held August 10-12 in Philadelphia.