Wanted: Third Party Candidate

    In a Country that is strictly two party politics, is there any room at all for a potential third party candidate to step into the lime light? It is more than just being able to grasp the attention of the constituents, it is the ability to make them get out and vote in your favor. In an election where many wonder if a third party should have stepped up, or perhaps where maybe Ron Paul should have gone third party instead of GOP, the question is, would it have been a successful move?  During a recent MSNBC interview with Mr. Jon Huntsman, he stated,

“We’re going to have problems politically until we get some sort of third party movement or some kind of alternative voice out there that can put forward new ideas...Someone’s going to step up at some point and say we’ve had enough of this...The real issues are not being addressed, and it’s time that we put forward an alternative vision, a bold thinking. We might not win, but we can certainly influence the debate. (Shear, 2012)”

     Many who are interested in a potential third party would agree with Mr. Huntsman. They are aware that the third party are not going to be winning any elections, perhaps they will in the future when people can open their minds to different ideas. Until then, it would be interesting to see a more prominent third party be able to step into the scene and bring new ideas to the table. Many Americans feel as though both parties do not truly stand for their ideals and morals anymore because they are both going to extremes. The third party would be a great go to party because they would not be constrained to a strict political ideology like the Republicans and Democrats are today. There would be much more room for varying ideas without the constraint and restriction the two party model offers.

    According to Professor and third party expert, Ron Rapoport of George Mason University,

"Third parties are successful to the degree which they identify a constituency that isn't being addressed by the two major parties. (Cohen, 2012)"

       Many view the third party as the party that can not only bridge together both the Republicans and the Democrats, but the party that will solve the issues and stand for the common interest of the public good. The issue then is what is public good and common interest? In America, where two parties stand at gridlock and legislative failure is viewed as inevitable, is there even such a thing as a common interest? Ideas vary so vastly and politicians and political parties stand so stubbornly by their party lines, to them and their constituency, public good is what their respective party stands for. Therefore, would a third party even be able to nudge a constituency towards a different ideology? I think not.



      Additionally, many believe that all independent voters who would suddenly run enthusiastically towards a third-party candidate. In actuality, most independent voters tend to lean towards one of the political parties and the number of truly free agent members of the electorate is less than 10%. However, if you consider the severe level of polarization between the two parties, that number may be even smaller (Cohen, 2012).

    In conclusion, though a third party would quite clearly be unable to win, it would give free agents in the independent party someone to vote for. It would offer up differing ideologies and varying solutions to legislation, free of political party constraints. Hopefully in the future there can be a more moderate third party that could save America from its polarizing two party system, which is riddled with extreme politicians in pursuit only of personal agendas. A third party may be able to open a door of opportunity and perhaps provide a glimmer of hope for the future of our political system.






                                                                 Works Cited

Cohen, M. (2012, March 15). Americans elect and the third-party chimera. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/mar/15/americans-elect-third-party-chimera

Shear, M. (2012, February 24). Who might run as a third-party candidate in 2012. Retrieved from http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/who-might-run-as-a-third-party-candidate-in-2012/