Reply #6: In some states allowing politicians to run under multiple parties 3rd parties are more powerful

[ShadowLiberal]

There's several states, New York and Minnesota for sure I know, that allow candidates to register for the ballot under multiple parties. In states allowing this 3rd parties tend to have more power since their party name is like an endorsement, such as in New York when the Conservative Party was unsatisfied in NY-23 with the moderate GOP pick so they ran ultra conservative Hoffman. I believe Rudy won the Liberal party's endorsement when running for mayor of NYC to.

In Minnesota I think most democrats have it written next to their name that they also belong to the labor party, and the farmer party (at least I know Al Franken did).