[wideawake]

That 35% is the foundation upon which they will attempt to construct a Clintonian plurality for 2012.

Hard to do without a Perot.

As the 2008 election demonstrated, third parties have pretty close to zero appeal.

In fact, absent a well-known candidate (like Perot, Anderson, LaFollette and Roosevelt) no third party ever gets much more than 2% of the vote.

I'm not sure who the celebrity third party candidate who will siphon GOP votes could be at this point.

[The Pack Knight]

Depending on who the Republican nominee is, it could be a Tea Party candidate.

[nascarnation]

Remember that this third party will be covertly funded by the Baraqqis (Soros) and will have media adulation.

If Charlie Crist wins in Florida, he’s one of their likely candidates.

[MNJohnnie]

People always remember Perot in 1992 and 1996 but then forget John Anderson the “Moderate” Republican spoiler who ran in 1980.

Given how lousy Carter was as President, not even a spoiler could save him as Perot did Clinton.

Obama is Carter 2.0

[TexasFreeper2009]

Only Palin could do it if she went independent.

[GonzoGOP]

In fact, absent a well-known candidate (like Perot, Anderson, LaFollette and Roosevelt) no third party ever gets much more than 2% of the vote.

I'm not sure who the celebrity third party candidate who will siphon GOP votes could be at this point.

If he doesn't get the nomination outright (in my opinion doubtful) my bet would be Romney. Heaven knows he wants to be president. If Palin or some other conservative gets the nod I wouldn't be surprised if he does a Charlie Crist and runs as an independent. Romney certainly has the money and ego to make a third party bid. And his party loyalty has always been suspect. He has a fanatical fan base especially in places like FR that will effectively disrupt any chance for conservatives to rally around the actual GOP nominee.

Finally, and most importantly like Crist he would be able to convince himself that he has a serious chance of winning a three way. With Obama stuck in the high 30s all he has to do is unleash the flying monkeys on the Conservative (and the MSM will surely help in that) to get to 40% for the win.

[widdle_wabbit]

“In fact, absent a well-known candidate (like Perot, Anderson, LaFollette and Roosevelt) no third party ever gets much more than 2% of the vote.”

John Anderson in 1980 received 7%