Posted on 07/11/2010 1:39:55 PM PDT by Fred
An unusual number of Democratic candidates running this cycle are basing their victory scenarios on the existence of Independent or third-party candidates in their races. Are their hopes reasonable or are they merely grasping at straws?
Certainly there are examples of third-party candidates who had no chance of winning siphoning off enough votes from one major-party nominee to alter the outcome of an election.
Last cycle, in Ohio’s 15th district, anti-abortion conservative Don Eckhart drew almost 13,000 votes, the majority of which might well have gone to GOP nominee Steve Stivers. That almost certainly cost the Republican the election, as Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy won by less than 1 point.
But more often than not, Independents and third-party candidates see their support evaporate as Election Day approaches, as voters realize that a vote for an also-ran is a wasted vote.
At least 10 Democratic hopefuls now seem to be counting on Independent candidates attracting enough votes to allow the Democrats to win with less than 50 percent of the total vote. The list includes Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Florida Rep. Alan Grayson , Colorado Rep. Betsy Markey , Michigan Rep. Mark Schauer , Nevada Rep. Dina Titus , Ohio Rep. Zack Space , Virginia Reps. Tom Perriello and Glenn Nye , Ohio’s Kilroy, and Pennsylvania 15th district challenger John Callahan. Click here to learn more!Click here to learn more!Click here to learn more!
In Nevada, even Democrats acknowledge that it will be difficult for Reid to reach 50 percent in November. But they note that the state’s “none of the above” option for voters, combined with a number of Independent candidates, enhance Reid’s chances by dividing the anti-Reid vote.
Most of the attention has gone to Tea Party nominee Scott Ashjian, but Independent American Party nominee Tim
(Excerpt) Read more at cqpolitics.com ...
Sorry Charlie, Crist is losing in the latest Rasmussen poll, plus it’s my understanding that the governor has been pounding the airwaves with ads while Rubio is holding back. Not a good sign for “Good Time Charlie.”
“the writer seems to dismiss each of the DNC so called hopes that there is a strong third party option.”
Stuart Rothenberg is one of the brightest and sharpest political analysts there is. He and Charlie Cook successfully predicted the Repub tidal wave of 1994. Rothenberg also predicted that the 3rd party candidate in the 2009 NJ Gov race wouldn’t insure Corzine a second term, he was right on the money.
Not going to happen with 3rd party her in Ohio 18 with Zack Space. No one has ever heard of the 3rd party guy. Even I did not know about him until I got a poll on the phone and still other than one call have not heard a thing about him or of him. Hubby and I think he was put up to it to spit the vote.
No it’s not the answer is to take over both the Republican and DEMOCRATIC parties!!
-J.S.
I sure hope this trend holds, because if Crist wins, he may be the Soros backed 3rd party candidate the Baraqqis use to acheive a Clintonian plurality win in 012.
I’m sure the MSM would fawn all over Charlie.
It doesn't matter.
Both parties are exhausted, they have served no real purpose since 1956 if not before.
The "caucuses" are all part of the scam. Neither party wants change on immigration, on foreign trade, on the money question, on energy production, on entitlements.
Anyone who gets elected to the GOP caucus with a reform agenda is immediately marginalized. Anyone who wants reform in the Democrat caucus is a Stalinist, or worse.
Power is lying on the ground. Who will pick it up?
If the health care debate proved anything it certainly proved that there is no such thing as a pro life Democrat. ALL DEMOCRATS are morally bankrupt they march in lock step on the Progressive Marxist Socialist agenda that their party is sponsoring. They hide their agenda, everyone of them lies about their true intention. They thought that Obama’s articulate manner would be able to explain Socialism in a way that they would be able to convince enough Americans to follow their Marxist ideology thankfully it appears they were wrong and Americans woke up. That whole debate about conservative Democrats is BULL they act one way and vote another it all depends on which special interest is manipulating their puppet strings.
Only vote for CONSERVATIVE candidates that are not afraid to proclaim their pro-conservative credentials.
It more like, anyone who votes “the lesser of two evils” may as well vote rat, since the rat wanna be they just voted for will eventually get us there anyway.Four years or twenty four, whats the difference, it all eventually get us to the “People`s Utopia”.
AS usual the CQ planted a Pro DNC headline to disguse some very bad news for the DNC grand strategy.
CQ is a Dem run operation so I am shocked they let this story out.
Not in Maryland. The Independent party just dismantled it’s entire operation.
Problem with the I party is it encompasses everything from ecomentalist greenies, to constitutionalists, to libertarians. No common ground.
There are NO run-offs in the General Election. Only in Primaries. Bill Clinton was elected to two terms and never got over 50%.
Keep dreaming Stewie, keep dreaming.
“I’m sure the MSM would fawn all over Charlie.”
They already are, just watch Morning Joe and you’ll see.
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