Third Parties

[minionofmidas]

Current CNN standings...
Nader 389,458
Badnarik 371,600
Peroutka 127,649
Cobb 102,666
others 55,839
Adding errors mine. Figures still subject to minor increases.
Nader came third in 34 states and DC
Badnarik came third in 14 states, most of which didn't have Nader on the ballot
Cobb came third in Hawai'i
Nobody came third in Oklahoma, as there were only two options

[??????????]

Current CNN standings...
Nader 389,458
Badnarik 371,600
Peroutka 127,649
Cobb 102,666
others 55,839
Adding errors mine. Figures still subject to minor increases.
Nader came third in 34 states and DC
Badnarik came third in 14 states, most of which didn't have Nader on the ballot
Cobb came third in Hawai'i
Nobody came third in Oklahoma, as there were only two options

Badnarik did pretty well. Indiana gave him 1%. Good show Libertarians!

[John Dibble]

Seems this was an overall bad year for third parties. I guess people felt there was too much on the line. Still, Badnarik did well, almost beat Nader. Hopefully we'll come in third(or better would be better) in 2008.

[kevinatcausa]

Which states had both Badnarik and Nader on the ballot with Badnarik coming in third?

[stry_cat]

Current CNN standings...
Nader 389,458
Badnarik 371,600
Peroutka 127,649
Cobb 102,666
others 55,839
Adding errors mine. Figures still subject to minor increases.
Nader came third in 34 states and DC
Badnarik came third in 14 states, most of which didn't have Nader on the ballot
Cobb came third in Hawai'i
Nobody came third in Oklahoma, as there were only two options

Badnarik did pretty well. Indiana gave him 1%. Good show Libertarians!

I disagree.  We were on a lot more states than Nader and still didn't get more votes than him.  If I recall correctly we also got fewer votes than in 2000.  Finally we were promised 1 million votes by the campaign this is result is a complete failure and reinforces the Loosertarian image we already have.  If this time and money had been spent on local campaigns we would be a lot closer to our goal.

[John Dibble]

Current CNN standings...
Nader 389,458
Badnarik 371,600
Peroutka 127,649
Cobb 102,666
others 55,839
Adding errors mine. Figures still subject to minor increases.
Nader came third in 34 states and DC
Badnarik came third in 14 states, most of which didn't have Nader on the ballot
Cobb came third in Hawai'i
Nobody came third in Oklahoma, as there were only two options

Badnarik did pretty well. Indiana gave him 1%. Good show Libertarians!

I disagree.  We were on a lot more states than Nader and still didn't get more votes than him.  If I recall correctly we also got fewer votes than in 2000.  Finally we were promised 1 million votes by the campaign this is result is a complete failure and reinforces the Loosertarian image we already have.  If this time and money had been spent on local campaigns we would be a lot closer to our goal.

I don't ever remember being promised any number of votes. I do remember that they hoped for a million votes. If the atmosphere this election was the same as the 2000 election, we would have done better. Also Nader would have done worse in NH if Badnarik had been on the ballot there.

I do agree we should have spent more on local elections though. Actually, if we want anything to change we need to work for electoral reform. I'm going to do my best to get approval voting legislation in Georgia.

[stry_cat]

I do agree we should have spent more on local elections though. Actually, if we want anything to change we need to work for electoral reform. I'm going to do my best to get approval voting legislation in Georgia.

The electoral system is fine as it is.   In order to win we must be a majority somewhere (or in a 3 way race 33%).  If we cannot be a majority somewhere on the local level then we have no business being in politics.  I've actually heard good things about the Georgia LP on the local level.  I would urge you to work to help get other Libertarians involved in your local community, and to get more Liberrtarians elected on the local level.

[John Dibble]

I do agree we should have spent more on local elections though. Actually, if we want anything to change we need to work for electoral reform. I'm going to do my best to get approval voting legislation in Georgia.

The electoral system is fine as it is.   In order to win we must be a majority somewhere (or in a 3 way race 33%).  If we cannot be a majority somewhere on the local level then we have no business being in politics.

No. The electoral system WOULD be fine if people would vote for the candidate that actually reflects their views, but they believe they throw away their vote if they vote third party - thusly the current system really only works well with two parties. Also, 33% is not a majority, it's a plurality - another problem, should 33% of the population decide who represents the other 67%?

[Brandon H]

Peroutka was 4th in Louisiana and South Carolina behind Nader. In SC, it was by about 1000 and in La. it was by about 2000. At one point Peroutka was in third SC, but the dumb little pie graph was still saying Bush - Kerry - Nader.

I wonder what would have happened if Nader got the Green Nomination.

Ready for 2008?

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

As disappointing as this election is for Democrats, it has to be equally disappointing for Libertarians.  This was a year they hyped as one in which they would finally break out of their hardcore base, and yet they may have had their worst showing ever (close with 1992).   I don't see how the Libertarian can claim to have a future in national politics after last night.  They were totally irrelevant....I don't think I heard them mentioned once on all the coverage I watched.