The Significance Of Third Parties

Question 1

What is the significance regarding close elections?

Answer 1

-third parties/independents can influence final outcome - ‘spoilers’

Question 2

What is an example of this?

Answer 2

-2000 Bush/Gore race down to winning Florida
-Green candidate Nader more votes than Bush’s final winning margin - without Nader most votes gone to Gore

Question 3

What is the counter argument to this?

Answer 3

-in most pres elections they’re fail make any impact on outcome e.g. 2012 + 2016

Question 4

What are the statistics for the 2012 example?

Answer 4

-Libertarian candidate Johnson = 0.99% of vote
-Green candidate Stein = 0.36% of vote
-Repub Romney = 47%
-Dem Obama = 51%

Question 5

What is their significance in terms of attractive policies?

Answer 5

-some third party or independent candidates have attractive policies to voters

Question 6

What is an example of this?

Answer 6

-‘Green New Deal’ 2018 + 2020 elections found favour with many progressive democrats

Question 7

What is a counter argument to this?

Answer 7

-most lack high profile media presence
-rarely participate in TV debates - considered extremist or irrelevant

Question 8

What is an example of this?

Answer 8

-2020 election Dem + Repub 98% share of vote
-no room for thirds + not widely known due to lack of publicity