WHY DO PEOPLE VOTE FOR 3RD PARTY CANDlDATES?

Question

A VOTE FOR A 3RD PARTY CANDIDATE LIKE RALPH NADER IS A VOTE FOR GEORGE DUMBYA BY PROXY. RALPH NADER PUT DUMBYA IN THE WHITEHOUSE.

DO NOT VOTE FOR 3RD PARTY CANDIDATES!! IT'S A RUSE!!

Answer 1

A third party candidate can not win a Presidential election. They run to force the main parties to address issues they may otherwise avoid.

People who don't follow politics closely are often attracted to the third party candidate(s). If the candidate leans "left," they divide the Democratic ticket. If the candidate leans "right," they divide the Republican ticket.

Republicans are delighted when a Green Party or Libertarian Party candidate runs in an election. It makes it easier for them to win an election.

Answer 2

From a rational voting perspective, you are correct (for the most part). There are two reasons why people might vote for a 3rd party candidate.

1. Some votes are expressive. People vote for who they like the best. The idea behind this in political theory is that voting is the same thing as writing an editorial or making a political statement of another sort.

2. What if a person was a die-hard conservative. They knew that the Republican candidate was going to win (Like Reagan v Mondale) but they wanted to cast a vote that sent a message to the Republican (perhaps to pull them to the right on the political spectrum).

To some extent, this is what is happening to the Democrats. More liberal Democrats and third party candidate are gaining some popularity. This forces main stream Democrats to move to the left. This, however, makes it hard to win a general election, which is why Hillary Clinton is now giving centrist policy speeches.

Answer 3

Don't say that, that's what the major parties want you to think, so that you don't vote for anyone else.

I think it's crazy that people blame Ralph Nader for putting Bush in the White house because some Dems voted for him, but they don't blame Al Gore for not being a good candidate, not doing well in debates, not having solid opinions, and for having the personality of a stick.

The two major parties don't represent what I want for the US government, so I vote for a third party candidate if there is one I agree with. It doesn't matter that they don't win, it matters to me that I voted for the candidate I thought would do the best job. How are things ever going to change in this country if everyone follows the status quo of candidates spouting whatever the party has deemed necessary for win? How will anything change unless people stand up for what they believe is right for the country and send the people in charge a message that they are not happy? If nothing else, voting third party sends this message.

Answer 4

A vote for a third party is a vote AGAINST the 2 morons the 2 parties usually stick us with. Ralph Nader DID NOT put Bush in the White House. If Gore had appealed to more voters and had a few original ideas instead of simply being the anti-Bush, maybe things would have worked out differently.

I vote for the person who I feel will do the best job, and the one who's views are closest to my own. Those who vote simply based on party affiliation are either too lazy or too stupid to make an informed decision.

Just as an aside - You could also say that Bush Sr lost in '92 because a lot of Republicans voted for Perot, if you ignore the facts that Bush Sr had alienated much of his conservative base by breaking his 1988 campaign pledge against raising taxes, the economy had sunk into recession, and his perceived best strength, foreign policy, was regarded as much less important following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the relatively peaceful climate in the Middle East following the defeat of Iraq in the Gulf War.

Answer 5

True, some people think that voting for 3rd party candidates is a waste of a good vote. I agree that it is a waste because they are usually never even close to winning like the Democrats and Republicans. However when a person signs up to vote they have a personal right to choose their party and vote for whom they wish. So people do this voicing their opinion maybe. Maybe simply they think that the 3rd party Candide is better then the other two or the only one worth voting for and they don't want to be the blame when the other to *** up. I personally haven't voted for the 3rd party but know a lot that has. I would choose the 3rd party if the other two didn't show me that they offered anything or I would choose not to vote at all. Its the right people have. But honestly I can tell you I'd vote for a dumb@*** before I vote for Bush.

Answer 6

First, your name is offensive. You can dislike Bush and make a statement with your username, but to equate Bush with Hitler merely shows that your opinion and position are without merit.

We will never be able to open up the political system of the US beyond two (very broken) parties unless a legitimate third party comes into existence. This will only happen when enough voters feel disenfranchised enough refrain from voting for either. Voting for a third party that has no chance of winning is still making a statement and may affect future behavior of the other parties or eventually bring about a third party with a chance of winning.

Answer 7

I don't buy that at all. I think it would be better if people started to break away from the two national parties we have and give all of us more choices. I think the ruse is the fact that we think we only have two choices and it would be nice to see people start thinking for themselves and not let a few powerful people decide who are choices are going to be. John Kerry ran a horrible campaign and Ralph Nader didn't cost him the election. Gore did the same by running a campaign which feel apart before it ever had started.

Answer 8

Voting for a third party candidate is the same as voting for the enemy. The news media is really killing the Neocons over the anniversary of New Orleans and the response to Hurricane Katrina one year later. Just 3 months to go for a Democrat Congress come on, I'm having a party too.

Answer 9

definite and that i'm doing so proudly for Barr. I choose somebody who certainly follows the form, it is why I additionally like 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley. As Einstein mentioned the definition of insanity is to doing something persistently, at the same time as watching for a diverse result. in case you keep balloting for a Repubicrat and assume the rustic to alter, that's what you're doing. I certainly have heard the reaction that if i'm balloting for third party applicants persistently and consistently dropping, follows that concept additionally. the adaptation is i'm going to be balloting for them, inspite of the undeniable fact that it truly is with the wish they win, i do no longer assume it.

Answer 10

they vote for 3rd party candidates because they have the right to vote for whoever they want and because the republican and democratic candidates are usually both assholes. its like that episode of south park where they had to choose between a douche and a turd sandwich. i would vote for a 3rd party candidate too if i was in that situation