30% Want A Third Party
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, 3rd PartyThis is actually good news for Obama because his message of “we need a culture change in Washington” seems to be in the collective zeitgeist right now.
In new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, 46% plurality calls for “major reforms and a brand new and different approach” in government. “The mood is for more than small incremental changes,” says Democrat Peter Hart, who conducts WSJ/NBC surveys with Republican counterpart Bill McInturff.Three in 10 respondents say the two-party system is “seriously broken and the country needs a third party.” In three-way matchup with Giuliani and Clinton, maverick Republican Ron Paul draws 9%, slightly less than Pat Buchanan and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in earlier WSJ/NBC surveys.
No surprises there, but what about a matchup between Obama and McCain? Would Paul still pull 9% or more? Something to consider is that a lot of people still haven’t heard Paul’s freedom message, so there’s potential for growth.
Still, would it be enough to build a 3rd party around?
This entry was posted on Sunday, December 23rd, 2007 and is filed under 2008 Election, 3rd Party. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
December 23rd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
hell yes. this country is over ripe for change. we are literally bursting at the seams!!
December 23rd, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Ron Paul received contributions from over 100,000 different people this quarter. He received $18,000,000 from those 100,000 people. His support is wide and deep. Look around your town and notice you see RP signs everywhere. Grab a cup of coffee and go to http://freeme.tv
December 23rd, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Justin’s failsafe.
Need traffic, write another Ron Paul third party post.
What is this like the 50th?
December 23rd, 2007 at 3:38 pm
It wouldn’t matter if Ron Paul were to get $35 million more in contributions, or if Michael Bloomberg were to jump in with $50 million. Trying to build a third party around a candidate, even a well-financed and popular one, would be like trying to build a huge convention hall while hosting a huge convention at the same site — one thrown together in the midst of last-minute chaos.
A candidate from neither major party might capture the White House at some point, if the public gets sufficiently disgusted with the Republicans and Democrats. I doubt he or she would have a very happy or productive time as president, but depending on the person it’s possible that might be overcome.
Building a third party with legs is a whole ‘nother matter, much more complex and challenging. And it has to build up from the bottom, by winning state legislative seats and governorships, then House and Senate seats. Then, a third-party presidential candidate would have something to work with.
I mean no insult, but I have to agree with Vicky. Maybe your blog should be renamed Paulephant.
December 23rd, 2007 at 9:27 pm
My campaign tried the same poll, Clinton-Giuliani and Clinton-Giuliani-Phillies. To compensate for the voters currently ignoring the election, for each candidate the party was named, and a few core stands were identified. We tried to be as fair and positive for each half-dozen word statements of the stands.
In Republican Rudy Giuliani-Democrat Hillary Clinton-Libertarian George Phillies, with stands noted, the real Libertarian candidate polled not at the 9% noted above for Paul, but at 12%.
When people were asked whether they identify as Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or some other party, “Libertarian” polled at 6%.
This was an orthodox random poll by a commercial house, with 1000 ‘likely voter’ respondents, not an internet poll.
December 24th, 2007 at 12:38 am
Paul ran as a 3rd party candidate in 1988 and saw first-hand the slimy tactics the two-party cartel used to keep guys like him off the ballots.
I don’t know why Justin keeps posting this 3rd party crap. Why would Paul run 3rd party when he already has the factions (libertarians, constitutionalists, independents, populist left and old right conservatives) under his belt?
All of this 3rd party talk is coming from desperate GOP elitists who know that they do not have the votes to win the general election, unless they nominate Paul.
December 24th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
What specific policies has Obama proposed? Change?…. Ok , he’s got my vote!