Third Parties: “They Ain’t Got a

Chance”

Third Parties: “They Ain’t Got a

Chance”

Ross Perot: 1992, 1996 Ralph Nader: 2000, 2004

What is a Third Party?What is a Third Party?

Any political party Any political party organized in at least a organized in at least a few states, other than few states, other than the two current leading the two current leading partiesparties

http://politics1.com/parties.htm

Any political party Any political party organized in at least a organized in at least a few states, other than few states, other than the two current leading the two current leading partiesparties

http://politics1.com/parties.htmJesse Ventura, Independent

Governor of Minnesota, 1999-2003

History of American Third Parties

History of American Third Parties

No minor third party as ever come close to winning the presidency!

Only eight third party candidates have won any electoral votes

Only five, including Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 and Ross Perot in 1992 have won more than 10% of the popular vote

No minor third party as ever come close to winning the presidency!

Only eight third party candidates have won any electoral votes

Only five, including Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 and Ross Perot in 1992 have won more than 10% of the popular vote

Types of Third Parties

Types of Third Parties

Ideological PartiesIdeological Parties

Based on set of beliefs

Examples: Socialist, Communist, and Libertarian Parties

Based on set of beliefs

Examples: Socialist, Communist, and Libertarian Parties

Libertarian Party 2000 campaign ad

Single Issue Parties:

Single Issue Parties:

Example: Prohibition Party in 1892, Right to Life, Strom Thurmond and Segregationists, “know nothings”, Free Soil

Example: Prohibition Party in 1892, Right to Life, Strom Thurmond and Segregationists, “know nothings”, Free Soil

Concentrate on one public policy or issue

Economic Protest Parties

Economic Protest Parties

Example: James Weaver and the Populist Party won over 1 million popular votes and 22 electoral votes in 1892

Example: James Weaver and the Populist Party won over 1 million popular votes and 22 electoral votes in 1892

Disgusted with major political parties in areas of economic discontent

Splinter Parties:Splinter Parties:

Example: Theodore Roosevelt (Progressive Bull Moose Party), Ross Perot (Reform Party), Ralph Nader (Green Party)

Example: Theodore Roosevelt (Progressive Bull Moose Party), Ross Perot (Reform Party), Ralph Nader (Green Party)

Split away from one of the major parties

Purpose of Third Parties

Purpose of Third Parties

Though very rare, a third party may replace one of the major parties1856, the Republican Party replaces

the Whig Party

Though very rare, a third party may replace one of the major parties1856, the Republican Party replaces

the Whig Party

Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858

Purpose of Third Parties

Purpose of Third Parties

Third Parties have influence:Major parties often take

on the ideas of third parties

In 1992, both the Republican and Democratic Parties took on Perot’s reform government ideas about reducing the deficit

“Spoiler Role”“Innovator Role”

Third Parties have influence:Major parties often take

on the ideas of third parties

In 1992, both the Republican and Democratic Parties took on Perot’s reform government ideas about reducing the deficit

“Spoiler Role”“Innovator Role”

George Bush (Republican), Ross Perot (Reform), & Bill Clinton (Democrat) during

1992 Presidential debate

Purpose of Third Parties:

Purpose of Third Parties:

William Jennings Bryan, Democratic candidate for President, 1896

Once the major parties Once the major parties incorporate their ideas, incorporate their ideas, third parties burn outthird parties burn out

Populist Party platform Populist Party platform was assimilated into the was assimilated into the Democratic Party in Democratic Party in 18961896

Ralph Nader, 2000 Election

Ralph Nader, 2000 Election

http://www.therealdifference.org/issues.html

Commercials…Commercials…

http://www.youtube.com/user/votenader08

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rvuF7p2uwE

http://www.votenader.org/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/user/votenader08

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rvuF7p2uwE

http://www.votenader.org/index.html

Libertarian PartyLibertarian Partyhttp://www.lp.org/http://www.bobbarr2008.com/splas

h/?s0820http://www.youtube.com/

bobbarr2008

http://www.lp.org/http://www.bobbarr2008.com/splas

h/?s0820http://www.youtube.com/

bobbarr2008

NADER VOTER

IN 2000

Nader & the Reform Party 2004

Nader & the Reform Party 2004

Ralph Nader Math Problem2004 Presidential ElectionRalph Nader Math Problem2004 Presidential Election

Other Key 3rd PartiesOther Key 3rd Parties

Reform http://www.reformparty.org/Libertarian http://www.lp.org/Natural Law http://www.natural-

law.org/Socialist http://sp-usa.org/Prohibition

http://www.prohibition.org/Green http://www.gp.org/

Reform http://www.reformparty.org/Libertarian http://www.lp.org/Natural Law http://www.natural-

law.org/Socialist http://sp-usa.org/Prohibition

http://www.prohibition.org/Green http://www.gp.org/