1. Third Parties: “They Ain’t Got a Chance”
Ralph Nader: 2000, 2004
Ross Perot: 1992, 1996

2. Third Party Any political party organized in at least a few states,
other than the two
current leading
parties
Jesse Ventura, Independent Governor of Minnesota,

3. History of American Third Parties
Third Parties in the U.S. receive great attention, but in fact “have not assumed the importance that all the academic attention on them suggests.”

4. 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

5. Types of Third Parties

6. Sectional Parties Example: Strom Thurmond
and the Dixiecrat Party ran on a segregationist platform in 1948

7. Economic Protest Parties
Example: James Weaver and the Populist Party won over 1 million popular votes and 22 electoral votes in 1892

8. Ideology Parties
Examples: Socialist, Communist, and Libertarian Parties
Libertarian Party 2000 campaign ad

9. Charismatic Personality Parties
Example: Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Bull Moose Party in 1912

10. Specific Issue Parties
Example: Prohibition Party in 1892

11. Combination Parties
Example: George Wallace in 1968 (American Independent Party)
Dynamic leader with a Southern base
Anti-civil rights
Won 13% popular vote & 46 electoral votes

12. Purpose of Third Parties
Ralph Nader and the Green Party in 2000
“The electoral progress of third parties is in
direct proportion to the failure of the two
major parties to incorporate new ideas.”

13. Purpose of Third Parties
Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858
Though very rare, a third party may replace one of the major parties
1856, the Republican Party replaces the Whig Party

14. 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
George Bush (Republican), Ross Perot (Reform), & Bill Clinton (Democrat) during 1992 Presidential debate

15. Purpose of Third Parties:
Once the major parties incorporate their ideas, third parties burn out
Populist Party platform was assimilated into the Democratic Party in 1896
William Jennings Bryan, Democratic candidate for President, 1896

16. What do shooting stars and third parties have in common?

17. George Wallace, American Independent Party, 1968 Election

18. Ross Perot, 1996 http://www.bartcop.com

19. Ralph Nader, 2000 Election

20. NADER VOTER IN 2000

21. Nader & the Reform Party 2004

22. Ralph Nader Math Problem 2004 Presidential Election