Tancredo will make a third party run, in my opinion. Just an observation based on his latest statements which are moving into areas other than immigration.
Tancredo will split the 3P vote! [wail]
I wouldn't doubt that especially with Tancredo's association with "brilliant"(sarcasm) political tactician, Bay Buchanan.
If he does so, it's hello, Hillary!
I hear he's been considering Art Bell as a possible running mate.
I've been saying someone of Tancredo's stylings will run for awhile now. This is why it is SO CRITICAL that the repubs DO NOT nominate a moderate such as McCain, Guiliani, Romney, Rice.....ect. A Tancredo (or similar 3rd party) candidacy is the ONLY WAY Hillary can win in '08. Her husband never got over 49% of the vote and she won't even come close to that but 42% could be enough to win in a 3 way race.
Click here for the Reagan proposal on open borders with Mexico and Canada
More on Reagan's position on free trade and open borders
The anti illegal immigration candidates did not do well in the last election. The House of representatives went to great lengths to earn the support of the anti illegal immigration voters. They passed the border bill the anti's wanted in December of 2005. The voters defeated enough Republicans in the House so that there are now enough votes to offer illegal immigrants amnesty and citizenship.
If the voters supported a closed border with Mexico and a return of illegal immigrants to Mexico the Republicans would have held the house.
It is interesting to note that in 2004 President Bush got 35 percent of the Hispanic vote. In 2006 the Republicans got 30 percent of the Hispanic vote. Had the Republicans gotten 35 percent or more of the Hispanic vote they would have held on to both houses of Congress.
Tancredo will lave less effect on the 2008 election than Pat Buchanan did in 2000. Pat got way less than one half of one percent of the vote in 2000.
Every time I have asked anti illegal immigration posters why they are opposed to the illegal immigration from Mexico they say that terrorists may come through the border and they say are not opposed to legal immigration, just illegal immigration.
When I ask them if they would support the same regulations for Mexican border crossing as is in effect for Canadian border crossing they are opposed to granting to Mexicans the same privileges granted to Canadians.
Most of them do not know that we have an open border with Canada. Canadian citizens can come into the USA and live where they choose and work where they please.
When I point out that far more terrorists have been found trying to enter the USA from Canada than Mexico.. they still want Mexicans barred.
Tancredo like many less than bright people panders to the voters making the most noise. The noisiest voters rarely represent many votes.
The Ross Perot of the 21st Century. If he can't get his way, he will make everyone suffer!
I'm sure he can count on a fat check from Clinton's campaign chest if he does. Best move that the Democrats can make.
If there is a third party, I think there will be a fourth. It doesn't matter which side starts it; both parties have hard core 'true believers' who have been barely restrained from creating their own party by the fear of throwing the election to the hated enemy.
If a third part appears on the other side, that restraining factor is gone.
Consider; a serious anti-war party appears on the left with a real politician leading it, say Dennis Kucinich (I have it from my socialist brother that 'DK' is well-respected by the hard left), and suddenly starts polling with 7-8% of the electorate. At that point, the anti-illegal crowd on the right realize that they can create their own party, and make the statement they want to make with a greatly reduced chance of giving the election to the democrats. And away we go.
Tancredo, just like his puppet master Pat Buchanan, would like nothing more than to destroy the GOP.