Gallup recently had a poll on the need for a third party...and the country is split.
Quote:
Americans divide evenly in a recent Gallup Poll on whether the two major political parties are adequately representing the public, or whether a third party is needed. That represents a shift from 2007, when a majority said the Democrats and Republicans were doing "such a poor job that a third major party is needed."
Here's the interesting finding for me:
Gallup has typically found self-identified liberals to be the most likely ideological group to say a third party is needed. Even in 2003, when close to 6 in 10 Americans thought the Democratic and Republican Parties were doing an adequate job of representing Americans, a majority of liberals disagreed. Liberal support for a third party climbed to 66% in 2007, ironically shortly after the Democratic Party had assumed control of Congress for the first time since 1994. This year, with Barack Obama heading the Democratic ticket, marks the low point in liberal support for a third party, at 51%, but it is still above the majority level.
This year's drop in liberal support for a third party may suggest that liberals' penchant for favoring a third major party reflects a desire for a party that more closely reflects their political views, and perhaps they see Barack Obama as doing that better than Democratic leaders who have come before him.
Public Divided on Need for Third Party
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I wonder what the numbers would look like IF a specific third party was identified.
Would the liberals still believe a third party was needed if it was the Libertarian Party or Constitution Law Party?
Would libertarians or conservatives be for a third party if it was the Green Party?
There is the conundrum...which third party do those 47% want...and would they still want a third party if it was not one that was close to their ideological leanings?