Why don't more people consider 3'rd party candidates?

Question

So many people are dissatisfied with their (red vs. blue) parties choices, however, few are willing to stand up and let their parties know by actually voting for the candidate with the most principle other than the candidate-that-doesn't-suck-so-bad-but-h...

Don't you think that if we all voted for the candidate with the most principle instead of the one that doesn't suck so bad we'd finally get somewhere?

At least the whole red. vs. blue might reform itself?

Answer 1

Because third party candidates do not have a clue.

They all want to start at the top.  If any third party wants to become viable, they need to start at the state level, and get known around the country as viable candidates before they run a national campaign.  

It is well known that a third party candidate for president can do nothing more than make a statement.  If they started a grassroots campaign in several states for state and then national offices before they went after the presidency, they could make enough noise to have potential.

Also, the fact that in order to win the presidency, a candidate must take a majority of the electoral votes makes it unlikely that without changing that in the Constitution we will see a third party president.  This is because if there is no clear winner, the House of Reps selects the president.  There is NO WAY that the party not in control of the House would split their votes, thereby letting the House pick the candidate from their own party by default.

In this instance (if taken to the extreme of how the law is) you could see the republicans take 49% of the electoral votes, the third party take 49% of the electoral votes, and the democrat take 2% of the electoral votes, and the democrat controlled House could select the dem as president.  (or vice versa when republicans control the House)...this possibility alone makes it unlikely that we will see a viable 3rd party before a Constitutional amendment.

All American...actually I am guessing that Bob Barr and Ron Paul will each pull more votes from Nadar (who has been a thorn in the liberal's side) and these two are pulling more from the republicans than the dems.  So in this election, the third parties are probably hurting the reps more than the dems.

Answer 2

I would-but lets face it. None have a chance of winning. I would feel as if i was throwing away my vote. Thus i must go with the lesser of the two evils out of the big two parties.

McCain 2008

Answer 3

A lot of the third parties are pretty extreme.  In fact, just about all of them; and, besides all a third party ever seems to do is influence an election.  They never win, so I consider such a vote as a wasted vote.

Answer 4

A Third Party Vote IS a Passive GOP Vote...since MOST that vote 3rd Party would have Voted Dem had there been no other choice but two. So even though I would actually PREFER to have a REAL 3rd Choice in this Election, I DON'T..therefore I will VOTE OBAMA. Protest Votes Don't Work...those who do it...it's their right....BUT they are cutting off their nose to spite their face!  

Answer 5

Keep an eye on Ralph & Ron.

Much more to come.

Answer 6

I'm voting third party.  I refuse to contribute to the Republicratic duopoly, as it will cause the downfall of this country, so'oner or later.  Oh to the "but you'll waste your vote" people, suck it.

Answer 7

Because if you vote for a third party  the guy you don't want to get it might win .  and we would all hate to see oboma win  

Answer 8

I agree. Republicans and Democrats are a blight to this nation. The nation is not red or blue, it's purple! If lawmakers would realize this then we would be a better nation.

Answer 9

Most of the third party cands. are even weirder or more out of line than the two traditional parties and their platforms are usually pretty "single topic".

Answer 10

3rd party candidates are generally looked at as a vote of protest and most people don't like to "throw away" their vote. Kinda a bad mentality to have but that is the truth to it.  

Answer 11

Because you're all brainwashed robots, like the Germans under the n**i party, scared into obeying your masters!!

Answer 12

People know that third party candidates don't have a chance of winning so the perception is that a vote for a third party candidate is a mere gesture but it's not going to elect anyone.

Answer 13

I voted for Ross Perot, he had the money to get in advertised.

They wouldn't let him in the debates, so be bought an hour of time commercial free.

Unless a third party can break the media, then there is no hope.

I wont waste my vote to make a non heard statement, the person, or party running has to do a good job of getting them self attention, so they are at least a serious contender like Ross Perot did.

Answer 14

We realize a 3rd party vote is the same as a vote for the least acceptable of the 2.