Jan 13, 2012

Judge rules against Perry in Va. lawsuit

By Catalina Camia, USA TODAY
Updated 4m ago
Updated 4:07 p.m. ET

A federal judge today rejected Rick Perry's lawsuit challenging Virginia's ballot requirements, meaning Mitt Romney and Ron Paul will be the only major GOP candidates on the ballot.

U.S. District Judge John Gibney said in his ruling that Perry -- along with GOP candidates Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman and Rick Santorum who joined in the Texas governor's lawsuit -- waited too long to file their complaint against the state's ballot requirements.

"They knew the rules in Virginia many months ago ... In essence, they played the game, lost, and then complained that the rules were unfair," Gibney wrote.

Gibney had said in court papers this week that there was a "strong likelihood" he will find that it is unconstitutional to allow only Virginia residents to circulate the petitions to get candidates on the state ballot.

Perry sued after failing to get the required 10,000 signatures, including 400 from each of Virginia's 11 congressional districts. Romney and Paul were the only major GOP candidates who met the Virginia requirements, which are considered among the toughest in the country.

Virginia is one of the big prizes among the primaries being held March 6, on what is known as Super Tuesday.

Judge rules against Perry in Va. lawsuit