(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in the United States think their federal political spectrum requires a new choice, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 57 per cent of respondents believe a third major party is needed, while 39 per cent think the Republican and Democratic parties do an adequate job of representing the American people.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in the United States think their federal political spectrum requires a new choice, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 57 per cent of respondents believe a third major party is needed, while 39 per cent think the Republican and Democratic parties do an adequate job of representing the American people.
In American presidential elections, candidates require 270 votes in the U.S. Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2004, Republican incumbent George W. Bush earned a second term after securing 286 electoral votes from 31 states. Democratic nominee John Kerry received 252 electoral votes from 19 states and the District of Columbia. As far as the popular vote is concerned, Bush garnered 51.03 per cent of all cast ballots, with Kerry getting 48.04 per cent.
In 1992, Ross Perot received 18.9 per cent of the popular vote as a third party candidate, but won no electoral votes. In 1996, Perot garnered 8.48 per cent of all cast ballots as the Reform Party nominee. Ralph Nader was the Green Party’s presidential nominee in 1996 and 2000, and ran as an independent / Reform Party candidate in 2004, garnering 0.34 per cent of the vote.
On Sept. 26, former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich—who is said to be considering a run for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in 2008—expressed his views on third party candidates, saying, "It’s pretty impractical for me or anyone else to go that route. And even if you are ever going to succeed, who are you going to work with in Congress? It’s better to have a dialogue in both parties."
Polling Data
In your view, do the Republican and Democratic parties do an adequate job of representing the American people, or do they do such a poor job that a third major party is needed?
|
Sept. 2007 |
Jul. 2007 |
Sept. 2006 |
|
|
Do an adequate job |
39% |
33% |
45% |
|
A third party is needed |
57% |
58% |
48% |
|
Unsure |
4% |
10% |
7% |
Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,010 American adults, conducted from Sept. 14 to Sept. 16, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
