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

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, 1999- 2003

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 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) o Dynamic leader with a Southern base o Anti-civil rights o Won 13% popular vote & 46 electoral votes

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

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

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: William Jennings Bryan, Democratic candidate for President, 1896  Once the major parties incorporate their ideas, third parties burn out  Populist Party platform was assimilated into the Democratic Party in 1896

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

17. George Wallace, American Independent Party, 1968 Election http://www.wku.edu/Library/onlinexh

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