Clinton v Giuliani. Might that outcome produce a four party race?

[MethuenProgressive]

As the way-left and the way-right each decide to run an 'alternative' candidate.
What happens then? :shrug:

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. Probably Nothing

Ironically the only time a third party determined the winner was in 00 when Nader's presence on the ballot cost Gore Florida and the election despite getting nearly 49% of the vote in a three man race...

[rpannier]

3. I don't know about that

The Bull Moose Party in '12 split the republikkan party quite nicely.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. That Was Awhile Ago

Look at Pat Buchanan's doomed race...

He was a man who won actual Republican primaries and had the apparatus of a recognized party behind him and got < 1 % of the vote...

I just don't see a third party having a major impact in 08...

As I said a third party had a huge impact in 00 but it was accidential...

[rpannier]

2. Probably the most interesting election since TR and The BullMoose Party

It could go to the House to decide.

That would depend on who the four were...

HRC, ghouliani, that lunatic judge from Alabama and a candidate from the left who runs a Lamont-style campaign would just be HRC vs Ghouliani.

Let's face it...the reich wing hated Arnold but they turn out for him because he has the R next to his name.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. That's Presuming A Third Party Candidate Can Win Actual States

They are rare

Perot

Wallace

TR

[rpannier]

5. But if they can pull enough of the electorate in

Say 23% average in each state that would force candidates to campaign in states that would normally be comfortable.

I would think, and I have nothing to back this up with, that a powerful leftist candidate would do more damage to HRc in solidly Democratic states and a powerful reichwinger would hurt ghouliani in conservative states.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. Because Some States Are So Close

Like in FL

The most serious third party threats in the post war era have come from the right:

Thurmond in 48

Wallace in 68

Or from goo goo good government candidates

Anderson -80


Or from neo-populist billionaires


-Perot 92 and 96

[Dhalgren]

8. There will be some leftists who will not vote for Clinton and there will be

some rightists who won't vote for Giuliani (and there may be organizations that will pull support from each candidate), but by and large the two parties have the country locked-up. You only have the choice that they give you, otherwise you are either protest voting or principles voting; the former means nothing in this country and the latter means even less...