Who decides if the candidate is viable?
Sure, the vote is thrown away, but it is thrown away from the two political parties, not from the political process itself. It is therefore that it can affect those two political parties, who would seek to get that "thrown-away" vote, if indeed many people do so.
Did the GREENIE Naderites want to elect Bush as president? No.Please extrapolate, for yourself from there. :-)
Nope, they didn't. But they may have sent a message to the Democrats on what candidate they would support.
Viability refers to elect ability. Most of the American populace has NEVER even heard of the Libertarian Party and far fewer even know that the Constitution Party exists. Tom Tancredo ? Outside of his constituents, people on FR, and a few people who may hear his name on FNC, but turn away, because they don't know who he is,no one knows his name!
When so many people can't name the V.P., but ARE voters, just HOW viable are fringe candidates?
Oh yeah.........the GREENIES and Nader really " taught " the Dems a lesson. LOL. LOL. LOL !
Is Dean going to be the Dem candidate ? No? And he is the closest to Nader, but Noll really. :-)
And just WHAT did the Perotistas " teach " the GOP ? Is the president talking about getting under the hood and fixing stuff ? Well.............IS HE ? Has he repudiated NAFTA ? Did I miss that speech ?