[BonnieJ]

Having voted for Perot in '92, I would say there is NEVER a reason to vote for any 3rd-party candidate, no matter how valid you feel their agenda and priorities, or how angry you are at your own political party. You are helping to give the election to someone VERY far from your values and position on every issue. And what do you really gain from voting your conscience and taking your principled stand? Absolutely nothing, esp. long-term.

[Vigilanteman]

I disagree. Nobody should vote for a Libertaarian in a close election where the Republican is running a close race and is obviously far better than the Democrat (Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Georgia, Louisiana, etc.). However, in a blow-out election, a Libertarian vote is often the medicine needed to make the Republicans consider a real conservative next time or show the Democrats they don't have unanimous support. Massachussets is a case in point.

[FormerLurker]

The choices I see in this election are;

1. Voting for a Democrat is a vote for abortion and other distasteful liberal policies
2. Voting for a Republican is a vote for polluting our rivers and air, as well as a vote for corporate welfare
3. Voting for anything else is a vote for either of the above

That's why many people don't bother voting..