[CaroleL]

You could say that about any election cycle of any onon-incumbent party, for instance the Democrats in ‘08.

Maybe, but the Tea Party movement and the success its had in getting conservative candidates elected may be the difference this time around. Combine that with independents who voted for Obama and are now suffering from serious buyer's remorse and a third candidate could be more than a spoiler this time around.

[Tublecane]

“a third candidate could be more than a spoiler this time around”

I doubt it. Never happened in the history of the Republic.