Re:Only 9% of America Chose Trump and Clinton as the Nominees
by anonbanker on Monday August 01, 2016 @07:12PM
(#12206790)
So you're ignoring the self-implosion of the Reform Party (after it's takeover by Pat Buchanan) as a factor to their not being re-elected?
You're also ignoring all the changes made to election rules since Perot (all made to prevent such a strong showing again)?
(1) a third party is unlikely, in failing to win, to get even a single electoral vote, much less be instrumental in denying the leading major-party candidate a majority.
(2) If no candidate gets an electoral majority for the Presidency, the House elects a President on a one-vote per state basis (and if they don't do it by a specified time, the Vice President becomes President); if no candidate gets an electoral majority for the Vice Presidency, the Senate elects a Vice President.
> This would also pretty much destroy both parties - they will have to compromise and come closer to the middle.
Why would it destroy both major parties -- particularly the one that still wins the Presidency in that scenario?
> Basically, if a third party can get even 15% of the vote it would open the door for another candidate.
No, it wouldn't. We know that, because its happened, not that many elections ago (H. Ross Perot, 18.9% in 1992.)