3rd parties cannot win with either just Presidential candidates or single issue platforms. Instead, the two things they need are “popular” platforms and targeted elections.
“Popular” platforms are easy and in no way hypocritical. The party starts by bullet listing its top 20 agenda items, in no particular order. Then a national poll is taken about what the top 5 or top 10 of that list is popular with the public as well.
Then, as with the Republican Contract With America, you get all of your candidates nationwide to sign onto the short list, as a clear, concise platform that anyone can understand, and all candidates advertise.
This does not mean that you disavow you other platform items, just that you run on the most popular ones. It connect the party with the people. It also brings in votes from people who like a brief, clear message, even if they are not in full agreement with it.
At the same time, the 3rd party needs to pick its battles, those with a higher chance for a pickup in the election. By scavaging a seat here and a seat there, offering an alternative after a scandal by the incumbent candidate, the 3rd party can build its elected base.
This is how a 3rd party becomes a major player in elections, and it is a program that takes decades to pay off, but does pay off, unlike other techniques.
>3rd parties cannot win with either just Presidential candidates<
and your attitude will make sure it remains so.
What successes have they had?