One of the most misleading polling results I've ever seen came out earlier this month. According to a NBC/WSJ poll, 53% of Americans want there to be a third-party White House bid. So why don't third parties get more traction?
It's because no one third party that could satisfy that 53% of voters. Third party enthusiasts include Bloomberg-type elite centrists, Minutemen who are angry at the Republicans for not deporting or shooting more immigrants, the dude who called in to one of Ezra's TV appearances and said he wanted a third party that was pro-gay but centrist on abortion, and basically everybody on every edge of the political system from Naderites to those who feel that the Republicans aren't making America a theocracy fast enough. No party capable of winning a presidential election could be formed from these disparate materials.
