April 27, 2006

Majority of Americans want a viable third party

The Princeton Survey Research Associates for the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press says that 53 percent of Americans want a third major political party. It was at 50 percent last June.

While the two major parties appear to have a stranglehold on our political system, things can change and maybe even in time for 2008.

UPDATE: Rasmussen just released the results of their latest robo-poll:

...The survey also asked respondents how they would vote if "a third party candidate ran in 2008 and promised to build a barrier along the Mexican border and make enforcement of immigration law his top priority."

With that option, support fell sharply for both major parties. The Democrats still come out on top with support from 31% of Americans. The third party candidate moved into a virtual tie at 30% while the GOP fell to 21%.

This result probably reflects unhappiness with both parties on the immigration issue rather than a true opportunity for a third party. Historically, issues that drive third party candidates get co-opted by one of the major parties as they demonstrate popular appeal. Most Americans favor a barrier along the border and enforcement of existing law prior to other reforms.

With the immigration issue candidate as an option, 36% of conservative voters opt for the Republican candidate while 35% take the third party option. Among political moderates, 34% pick the Democrat while 32% prefer the third party option.

While this is a very serious subject, if you'd like a laugh here are no less than two people who think this could be an opportunity for a libertarian candidate. Add a third person and they'd have as many as attended last year's LP convention.

Posted to Politics at April 27, 2006 01:55 PM

Comments

One party, two parties, three parties.....one hundred and three parties.....It doesn't matter how many parties there are! The voters only have to be concerned with one party---the one they elect. Our problem is that the one we elect will not do our will. They tell us to eat shit and die, and then they do whatever the fuck comes into their little heads and then tell the voters--"Kiss My Congressional Ass If You Don't Like It!

Posted by: boofugg at April 27, 2006 02:36 PM

Boofugg:
Don't mean to be disagreeable but I must disagree. Our two current parties are leading the country down. I say its worth a try to support a third party if it gets big enough to win some offices.
That's the problem, we have not had a party come forward with wide appeal to those disgusted with the Dems and GOP.

Posted by: LomaAlta at April 27, 2006 09:03 PM

Follow the money. The people want immigration reform, but all the heavily funded think tanks, unions and NGOs want open borders, and politicians get millions from them. Here's an example of how teachers' unions rake it in to then pass it along to sympathetic pols. Teachers Unions Fail Their Members

Posted by: Pat at April 28, 2006 07:58 AM

Our insane campaign finance laws lock in the two-party duopoly. The only way around this (thanks to one of those rare good Supreme Court decision) is to find a billionaire like Ross Perot willing to fund his own campaign for President. Big money and a credible Presidential candidacy are needed to establish a viable third party in the US. And wasn't Perot a credible candidate mainly because he was a billionaire?

Posted by: perroazul del norte at April 28, 2006 08:13 AM

Dude... My post on BME was about them in the Congressional elections. Hence:

If the Libertarian Party would run on the following platform, it could actually take away critical votes from both major parties in 2006 and 2008 in the congressional elections.

It's ok, we've all be there before :-D

Posted by: MikeT at May 3, 2006 07:48 PM