Oklahoman Running For President

Despite difficulty getting on the ballot, an Oklahoma man is adding his name to the list of Presidential candidates.  Amy Lester reports from Ponca City that Richard Fleharty believes he has a chance to win.

Fleharty is different from the traditional candidates.  His campaign office is much simpler, he has no political experience, and he believes a hometown approach can land him in the White House. 

"It also takes the people to have a little faith to take a little blind trust and say okay, we've been going down this road it ain't working," said Presidential candidate Richard Fleharty.  "Let's try, let's give him leeway and see what happens."

Fleharty runs an engineering company.  He is pro-choice, anti-immigration, in favor of pulling the troops out of Iraq and wants everyone to have access to health care. 

"I'm not doing it for me," Fleharty said. "I'm doing it for the country and for the people."

As an independent, Fleharty must collect more than 40-thousand signatures by July to get his name on the ballot in Oklahoma.

"All I'm asking is that when come up to it and have time, have them sign it," said Richard Fleharty.

He spent part of the day delivering petitions to collect signatures in Ponca City.

"It's a really good thing for Kay County and for Ponca City to have someone who is pushing for the presidency," said Janna Broome, who was collecting signatures.

"It'll be interesting to see what a local person can do, never know what voting public will or won't do," said Hat Harman, who was collecting signatures.

Fleharty will battle ballot laws one state at a time.  The goal is to put his name one every ballot, and win.

"Once I get on all 50 ballots, all 50 states then my chance is just an equal as the others," said candidate Richard Fleharty.