How far is it true that 3rd Parties & Independent Candidates in the USA have little political significance and are destined to fail?

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Wolfshand LTD introduces a Nathan David Stephens-Griffin essay:

How far is it true that 3rd Parties & Independent Candidates in the USA have little political significance and are destined to fail?

In the political landscape of the USA, two main parties have dominated through out American History. The Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The theory that 3rd parties/Independent candidates are destined to fail in the American political process may seem easily feasible, however when studying recent election results it becomes clear that the small significance of these anomalies can not be assumed so easily. In the 2000 Presidential Elections, Green Party candidate Ralph Nader gained 3% of the total vote, which arguably would have gone to the Democratic candidate Al Gore and led to a Democratic victory, had he not stood. Therefore, although 3rd parties/independent candidates seem to be only a minor factor, they do have a part to play in American politics,

        

Sceptics have argued that any 3rd party/Independent Candidate wishing to be successful in the American political system is deluding itself. With regards to presidential elections, in which the Democratic and Republican candidates are able to fly across the country 1st class, staying in 5 star Hotels and gaining widespread media coverage, the scenario for any other candidate is very different. Due to the huge difference in funding for the two main parties compared to any other candidates, 3rd Party/Independent candidates are often forced to stay in cheap accommodation and fly in economy class. It is also extremely rare for a 3rd Party/Independent candidate to appear on any televised presidential debates or to appear on all 50 of the state ballots. However, the exception to this was in 1992 where Independent candidate Ross Perot, was allowed to take party in the main televised presidential election debate, with George Bush Senior and Bill Clinton. Many argue that his gaining 19% of the national vote in 1992 was subsequent to him having appeared as a ‘worthy rival’ to the Democratic and incumbent Republican candidates.

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The significance of 3rd Party/Independent candidates is often understated. For all they rarely gain a significant percentage of the total vote, they do serve to raise a specific issue and cause the two major parties to adapt to the situation. It was also party due to the emphasis Ross Perot placed on the Federal Budget deficit that many commentators explain his success. In both 1968 and 1972, George Wallace forced the Republican Party away from its anti-slavery position in order to regain many right-wing southern votes. In 1912 Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party forced the Republicans to accept reforms to ...

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