July 22, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States are voicing support for a new option in the country’s political scene, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 56 per cent of respondents believe the U.S. should have a third major political party in addition to the Democrats and Republicans, up six points since June 2004.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States are voicing support for a new option in the country’s political scene, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 56 per cent of respondents believe the U.S. should have a third major political party in addition to the Democrats and Republicans, up six points since June 2004.

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.

Earlier this month, former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney became the Green Party’s presidential nominee, declaring, "We are in this to build a movement. (...) A vote for the Green Party is a vote for the movement that will turn this country right-side-up again."

Polling Data

Some people say we should have a third major political party in this country in addition to the Democrats and Republicans. Do you agree or disagree?

	Jun. 2008	Apr. 2006	Jun. 2004
Agree	56%	53%	50%
Disagree	38%	40%	43%
Not sure	6%	7%	7%

Source: Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,004 American adults, conducted from Jun. 18 to Jun. 29, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.