Could third parties take advantage of next year's US Congressional elections?

[defe07]

I'd really like to see third parties to focus on a bunch of states (say 10) and pour all the resources into these states. Small states might be a big advantage for third parties. For Presidential elections, barnstorm in the top 10 states and have a wide connection within these states, to boost up % (also have main fundraisers there). Third parties must be active nationwide but do you think it would be better if they focused on a bunch of states for Congressional elections and focus on getting attention in the top states for Presidential elections?  

[Governor PiT]

Libertarians in NH possibly.

[defe07]

Libertarians in NH possibly.

Agreed but I see a couple of other states where the Libertarians could get good support. Texas, Arizona, Alaska, Florida, Indiana, maybe Maine. The Greens might focus on Maine, New York, Washington, California, the Constitutionalists might focus on Montana, Wyoming, Kentucky, Alabama, Texas. By the way, nice to see you in one of my threads again. Any other states where any of these parties might do well (if focusing on a group of states)?

[Governor PiT]

is Cindy Sheehan running?

[Kushahontas]

is Cindy Sheehan running?

lol running to be the superminority leader in the house. i doubt she'll so much as garner a handful in san francisco. she's riding on the hopes that dems are frustrated with pelosi's inability to end the war but im pretty sure a majority of dems especially those in her district understand that the bush vetoes and the slim majority take the main blame, not the party itself. either way it's sheehan's race to lose

[Governor PiT]

if a moderate republican gets in the race than it could become compettitive but Pelosi would most likey win.

[Aizen]

if a moderate republican gets in the race than it could become compettitive but Pelosi would most likey win.

It will be a moderate republican and it'll lose horribly anyway with or without Sheehan. Competitive? Not a chance

[Lief 🗽]

Um... Pelosi is seen as a moderate to conservative in her district. If a "moderate Republican" ran, he'd be seen as a fascist.

[memphis]

Not likely. I don't see any third parties with much crediblity. They all have a small devoted core who scares off everybody else.

[Padfoot]

I think that focusing on districts where that particular third party has a lot of ideological allies in a great idea for third parties.  One of the reasons they are so insignificant is because they waste millions of dollars on presidential and statewide races that they have no chance of winning and they sometimes end up throwing the election to the major party they agree with the least (Greens in 2000 for example).  Third parties are foolish to believe they can compete with the big two on a national or statewide level.  They need to think locally first if they ever want to be major players.

Having said all that, I also have to agree with memphis in that most third parties are so concerned with being "pure" and "principled" that they end up as fringe groups that are unable to attract enough people to win anything at all.  If you want to win elections you have to be willing to bend a little when it comes to your party platform.  You can't tell people they aren't one of you just because they disagree with the party line on 1 of your 100 positions.