SCOTUS declines Obama birth challenge

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court Monday declined to review a claim Barack Obama is not a "natural born citizen" and therefore disqualified from the presidency.

The court without comment declined to accept a stay application in the case of Donofrio vs. Wells, Secretary of State of New Jersey. Leo Donofrio of New Jersey tried to get all three presidential candidates stricken from the state ballot, claiming none was legally entitled to take office. The U.S. Constitution specifies the president must be a "natural born citizen" of the United States.

"My question is on a pure constitutional ground," Donofrio told the Chicago Tribune. "(Obama) is a citizen of the United States. I just don't believe he's a natural-born citizen."

Hawaiian officials have certified the authenticity of Obama's birth certificate as a "native-born" U.S. citizen.

The action marked the second time in three weeks the court has declined to rule on the authenticity of Obama's birth certificate, SCOTUSblog reported. A Pennsylvania challenge is still awaiting presentation before the court.

The challenges to Obama's birth status have been fueled by the Internet, right-wing radio talk shows and WorldNetDaily, a right-leaning Web site, the Tribune reported.