Yes, there are... here is just one example, posted on the PA state forum by a regular 3rd party cheerleader and still there...
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Someone ---- anyone ----- want to argue about the power of a 3rd party in an election? Let's look at THIS result:
VA - U.S. Senate
100% Precincts Reporting
Jim Webb
Democrat
1,143,756 (50%)
George Allen (i)
Republican
1,141,030 (49%)
Glenda Parker
Independent Grassroots
25,556 (1%)
I am sure it will be fun watching this one get sorted out?.. 2,309,342 votes tallied ? and a difference of 2,726 votes?. a difference of 0.118%. This is a PERFECT example of where a 3rd party candidate makes all the difference in the world.
The 3rd party in your example means nothing. The 3rd party most likely took votes from the winner, but that still means nothing. All your example shows is that the close runner up failed to convince folks he was worth voting for. The turnout was propably around 35%. Had the candidate done a better job, he would have motivated the needed votes out of the 65% that didn't vote. The 3rd party is still insignificant.
I want to keep Third Party candidates because they saved us from at least four years of Gore.