Three Way Race and Virtual Three Way Tie in 2008 ?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

It could happen. Because of immigration. Because neither McCain nor Giuliani, the front-runners, are taking a hard line on the issue. Consider this quote from a poster at conservative think tank FR:sarcasm: , on McCain's "liberal" immigration stance:

"Dear Senator McCain,
Screw you.
Signed,
Conservative Voters "


And according to right wingnut pollsters, Rasmussen, if a third party anti-immigration candidate runs, they will get a full third of the vote ! http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/April%20Dailies/Election%202008.htm

"The survey also asked respondents how they would vote if "a third party candidate ran in 2008 and promised to build a barrier along the Mexican border and make enforcement of immigration law his top priority."

With that option, support fell sharply for both major parties. The Democrats still come out on top with support from 31% of Americans. The third party candidate moved into a virtual tie at 30% while the GOP fell to 21%."


And who is waiting in the wings? The ultimate nut, Newt Gingrich ! Consider:

"In recent weeks, the architect of the Republican takeover of the House in 1994 has traveled several times to Iowa and New Hampshire, urging congressional Republicans to rein in federal spending and focus on maintaining _ if not building _ their majority in the November midterm elections"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/14/AR2006051400497.html


And this:

Gingrich: GOP 'Drifting Toward Disaster'
Human Events Online May 12 2006
Robert B. Bluey
With Senate Republicans “drifting toward disaster” on immigration, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said it’s up to President Bush to reconnect with the majority of Americans who support a strong enforcement-first approach.

snip
“The Senate is drifting toward a disaster of the first order,” Gingrich added. “The agreement on who they’re going to appoint to the conference guarantees a bad bill. The bill they’re looking at is a bad bill. It violates, in almost every case, what the American people want.”

http://www.newt.org/backpage.asp?art=3059

[nealmhughes]

1. Remember the Whigs in 1854 and then

the Democrats in 1860... Whigs disappeared and no Democrat won the presidency until Grover Cleveland! We can only hope for the same upon the Republicans...

[MADem]

2. Clinton was elected in a three-way race

Everyone forgets this little guy:

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. You're right. The wingnuts always bring that up -- that Clinton

didn't get 50% of the vote. You know, if this happens, it makes it even more important that we run an anti-war pullout candidate ! The third-party and the repuke ticket will probably still be treading water at that point. If it was Newt - he is on record as saying the US will need to be in Iraq for a very long time....