[truth_seeker]

The last time a non-Republican, or non-democrat won an electoral vote was 1968, George Wallace.

FR favorite got 0.5% of the vote in 2000. Ross Perot did much better, but likely threw 1992 to Clinton.

Greens, Libertarians, and plenty of other 3rd party fantasies pass almost unnoticed by the voters.

Reality check is a good thing, from time to time. As always the next Potus will be a Republican or a democrat.

[Antoninus]

FR favorite got 0.5% of the vote in 2000. Ross Perot did much better, but likely threw 1992 to Clinton.

I didn't like Perot in 1992, but I do believe he would have won if he didn't do the "black helicopter" rant thing. He was polling in the 20s then and trending up. And he still ended up with 19% of the vote when he got back in the race.

Reality check is a good thing, from time to time. As always the next Potus will be a Republican or a democrat.

Not many get the real point of the strategy here. Promoting a third party conservative has the dual effect of drawing votes away from Romney and bringing out potential voters for down-ticket conservative Republicans. Don't forget about that second part--but this will only work if the conservative candidate can get enough buzz going.

Having such a candidate in the race also allows the conservative viewpoint to be presented by someone who actually believes it. This is important for helping to educate voters for the next election. George W. Bush was a terribly inarticulate advocate for conservative ideals. In 2008, we had another poor advocate in John McCain. In 2012 we have a complete phony in Romney who is not a conservative at all.

Things can't go on like this if we expect to see improvement. Change is clearly not coming from within the GOP.