What would it take for an Independent to win the 2008 Presidential Race?

Question

If there were to be an independent come into the race what would he/she have to do to make the run for the White House? Would he/she have to start with an optimum amount of money or would it be more on name recogniton, and if so how much would it cost to start? And would name recognition be enough alone or would they have to have something up their sleeve?

Answer 1

I think that people are generally sick of both parties and if an Independent were to run he/she would probably get elected depending on if they were a professional politician and spun things differently than the parties have, WE need someone out of the back 40 to step up and be the leader that we need. I bet if there was a spot for "none of the above" on the ballot, "None of the above" would win.

Answer 2

1. End of a 2 party system( there are other parties then dem/rep)
2. Money and Name and More Money
3. The Independent would need to be offering a platform that the major majority of the US is wiling to get behind. No more stale promises and old speeches youve heard a million times. This person needs to be original no ties to any parties or people.

Answer 3

For that to happen, I think it would have to be a front-runner who defects from the party that they are affilliated with. THAT won't happen unless their is a "perfect storm" which causes one of the parties to collapse, and THAT won't happen.
Even an optimum amount of money won't help if you have no name recognition. I can't think of anything a person could have up their sleeve that would be enough to turn the heads of die hard party-liners (either party) which make up the vast majority of people who actually go out and vote.

Answer 4

I think the climate is ideal for an independent. However, the deck is stacked against them, because the laws have been designed to favor the status quo - the two current major parties.

Still, if someone with solid name recognition dropped in with $25 million, they might stand a chance.

Answer 5

Hi.... Im from UK... I and many here, wanted Gore to be president before! He seems to have his head screwed on, a lot better than Bush. His policies, including foreign policies, were much better and his vision for a polution free America, with electric cars, was far superior than anything Bush could have dreamt of!! Al Gore, in my opinion, would make a very honourable president and someone, that would bring respect back to the whitehouse and America, in the eyes of the World!

Answer 6

No less than a miracle. I can hardly stand living in this country anymore. Where have all the good politicians and leaders gone? What this country needs is a moderate, but unfortunately, the extremists are the ones with the moolah for campaigning. **** that.

Answer 7

It does take a considerable amount of money to run. However it is still the person and the message he has that will win it. It would have to be a strong person with strong convictions. Someone who believes in him or herself and will not sway with each new poll.

Answer 8

All it would take is for everyone to stop and think for a second! I mean WHY would you vote for the current top picks for president!? I think the American people are basically idiots if they vote in one of those that are currently favored(McCain,Rommney,Guliani,Clinton,Obama, etc.). I'm voting third party and I don't care what anyone says about it....

Answer 9

Probably an act of God. Both parties would exert all their influence to prevent his/her election. Plus, without a party to support them in the Congress they would play heck getting anything meaningful done.

Answer 10

Colin Powell.