Gallup Reports Third-Party Candidates Not A Factor
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In a study released today, October 10, the Gallup organization reported that third-party candidates do not appear to be a factor in the Presidential election. See Third Party Candidates Receiving Only Minimal Support.
The Gallup report is one of a series developed from a survey taken October 3-5, 2008, in which respondents were able to choose from four third-party candidates along with the two major-party candidates. According to Gallup, the poll “found only minimal support for any candidate other than John McCain or Barack Obama.” Gallup reported the following results:
Ralph Nader (independent candidate) received 2% of voter choices, Bob Barr (Libertarian Party) and Cynthia McKinney (Green Party) 1%, and Chuck Baldwin (Constitution Party) received less than 1%. The two major-party candidates, Obama and McCain, combined to receive 90% of registered voters’ choices.
Other findings:
- - The percentage of voters choosing Ralph Nader has declined to 2% from 4% in a similar poll taken a month ago.
- - When no list of candidates is read but poll respondents are given the choice of naming any candidate, only about 1% to 2% mention candidates other than McCain and Obama.
In Presidential elections, about 1% of voters will select a candidate other than the two major-party candidates, including a few who vote for the perennial Disney Party favorite, Mickey Mouse, some who write in “none of the above,” and scattered votes for minor parties virtually unknown outside of a local area. The Gallup results indicate that third-party voting in this election will not be substantially above that norm.
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This is good news.
Maggie
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