I’m beginning to entertain really wild prospects for the 2016 election. I can see something like this happening:
1. Trump wins the Republican nomination.
2. Hillary narrowly wins the Democratic nomination, even as the email investigation continues and culminates in an indictment.
3. So Sanders, riding a wave of popular support amid a tumultuous convention, announces a Socialist candidacy and immediately captures support matching or exceeding Clinton in national polls.
4. Meanwhile, conservatives rally around Cruz (or another conservative leader), recognizing the disaster Trump represents, and drive the creation of a national Conservative party to put forth a conservative option.
5. Seeing the splintering going on, the dis-established Republican establishment sees an opportunity and mounts a rump campaign with the most viable of the RINOs (Rubio, or perhaps Christie or Jeb) in yet another quickly established 3rd party.
6. Libertarians frustrated with Paul’s poor performance and the unacceptability of all of the above, find a viable libertarian standard-bearer. Voters frustrated at the circus in #1-5 above give greater support to the Libertarian option, particularly if the standard-bearer is someone whose libertarian principles are grounded in conservative ala the Pauls.
The result is a race with six viable candidates and non polling above 30%, with the polls all over the place. New media would love it for the ratings, but what would happen once the dust settles I have no idea.
dear another,
the ONLY candidate from the pure Libertarians is, once again, and again, and again, Gary Johnson.
No thanks, no thanks, no thanks!
Not a chance.