To some extent yes. However, the playing field on the federal level is not even. The RP and DP have used the force of government to stifle competition making it difficult to progress on that level.
I'd suggest reading What we're up against, by Harry Browne. It details some of the obstacles placed in the way of third parties.
...the Republicans in Massachusetts would be considered very liberal in many other parts of the country, like their current Republican Governor. If Mitt Romney runs, I'd vote for him if I lived there.
By Libertarian standards most Republicans in the country are considered liberal. Often times they differ little in the way they vote from their counterparts in the legislatures. I've been encouraging people to vote for Carla Howell, the Libertarian candidate for governor in Mass.
Seems to me the libertarians are left wing in many ways. The Libertarian platform would abolish the FBI and CIA I believe. Browne opposes the war in Afghanistan. They wouldn't have a draft under any circumstances. Then there's support for all abortion, including partial birth. What kind of vehicle is that for getting the country in a more conservative direction?
It's true the libertarians are far more conservative on economic issues than most Republicans, but so what? They'd abolish the income tax. They'd abolish all pollution laws. There's no chance of getting those things done. I couldn't support alot of the Libertarian economic platform.