Third party candidates search for a voice in upcoming election
Third party candidates criticize the rules of the Presidential Debate Commission that exclude them from participating in the debates.
"You have to show that at least 15 percent of Americans, through national polling, are interested or would vote for you, and very few third party candidates can ever reach that mark," said assistant political science professor Chris Owens.
U.S. House Rep. Ron Paul argued Republicans and Democrats control the commission and are hostile toward third parties in the debates.
Third party presidential candidates include Constitutional Party candidate Chuck Baldwin, Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney, Independent candidate Ralph Nader and Libertarian candidate Bob Barr.
"Ross Perot did so well (in 1992) that the federal election board, which is basically the two parties, kicked the League of Women Voters out, took (the debates) out of their hands. So now the two parties run the debates," political science professor Sterling Johnson said. "It's no longer objective at all. It's no longer fair. It's no longer even pretending to be a level playing field."
Historically, few third parties have risen to national prominence.
The Bull Moose Party came in second in the 1912 presidential election on the strength of Teddy Roosevelt's candidacy, Owens said.
Most third parties lack the money to run campaigns. Third parties also have a hard time gaining broad support.
"Most third parties arise either because they are unhappy with where one of the parties is going and they splinter off or there's some issue that the two parties aren't addressing," Owens said.
When a third party issue rallies a lot of support, it becomes an issue for the major parties.
In 1992, Bill Clinton picked up the issue of balancing the budget from Ross Perot.
"Third parties serve a dual purpose as a forum for issues and raising awareness of specific issues," said Mount Pleasant senior Bret Krabill, a College Republicans member.
Johnson said he is skeptical about the parties' influence.
"I think if things deteriorate enough economically, then the American people will transition out of their follow the leader-sheep mode and actually pursue something like a third party," Johnson said.
news@cm-life.com
