Rep. McCotter may miss primary ballot because of signature problems

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) may not have collected enough signatures to make it on to the Michigan primary ballot, throwing his chances at reelection into question.

The five-term lawmaker -- and one time longshot presidential candidiate -- announced Friday that he had been informed by his campaign that he may have submitted an insufficient number of signatures to garner a spot on the August primary ballot.

McCotter said his staff will "thoroughly review" the petitions for their "sufficiency or insufficiency."

Taking into account the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the campaign will announce their findings on Tuesday.

According to The Detroit Free Press, McCotter's campaign submitted the maximum of 2,000 signatures. Congressional candidates are required to turn in at least 1,000 signatures to make it onto the ballot.

However, McCotter may have had a problem with duplicate signatures on the petition, in which case both signatures would be thrown out. McCotter could fight to get some of the signatures certified if needed before the state's Board of Canvassers, which meets in June.

If McCotter is bounced from the GOP primary, he could opt to run as a write-in candidate or representing a third-party.

The House member launched a presidential bid back in July, but struggled to gain exposure and traction, and was never invited to a primary debate. He dropped out of that race in September, throwing his support behind GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney.

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