The message was, “Hey, we’re gonna help the Democrat get elected, but we’re too damned dumb to know it.” Some message. Needs work. 3rd party candidates get Democrats elected. It put Clinton in power, it put Henry in power in OK (thanks PKM), and some states were so close in 2000 that GW’s victory would have never been in doubt had Buchanan’s numbers not taken from GW and given the states to Gore.
Seems like in NJ the I vote hurt the D. Because if you add them up, it’s more than the R got.