Issue Watch
Track global public opinion on current issues.
- 2008: Race for the White House
- 2008: The U.S. Electoral College
- Abortion
- Africa
- Angela Merkel
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- Environment
- European Union
- George W. Bush
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- New Zealand Election 2008
- Nicolas Sarkozy
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- Silvio Berlusconi
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- U.S. Election 2008 - The Democrats
- U.S. Election 2008 - The Republicans
- U.S. Election 2008: The Primaries
- Vladimir Putin
- Yasuo Fukuda
Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Most Americans Endorse Third Party
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States believe it is time to form a national political organization that could challenge Republicans and Democrats in different elections, according to a poll by Opinion Dynamics released by Fox News. 50 per cent of respondents think a third national political party would be a good idea.
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.
Earlier this month, state comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn and musician Kinky Friedman were ratified as independent candidates in the Texas gubernatorial election. In Pennsylvania, Russ Diamond—who formed Operation PACleanSweep last year to oppose to a proposed pay raise for the Legislature that was eventually repealed—launched his gubernatorial bid in April.
Bush is ineligible for a third term in office. The next presidential election is scheduled for November 2008.
Polling Data
In general, do you think it would be a good idea or bad idea if a third national political party were formed that would run candidates for president, Congress, and state offices against the Republican and Democratic candidates?
Good idea | 50% |
Bad idea | 37% |
Don't know | 13% |
Source: Opinion Dynamics / Fox News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 900 registered American voters, conducted on Jun. 27 and Jun. 28, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.