So.. What happens if more than one Independent candidate runs for Prez?

[snowbear]

Say .. oh, I dunno.. .. Nader decides to run.

What would happen in the unlikelihood that.. Lieberman, Bloomberg, or some other person decided to also run as an Independent?

Can you have more than one "I" on the ticket -- or would they have to have their own primary run-off to narrow it down to one?

[JI7]

1. i'm guessing independent means non political party

so there can be more than 1 person running as an independent.

[IndianaGreen]

2. Bloomberg would be interesting to watch

There is some dynamic involving Bloomberg, Lieberman, and others about Bloomberg running in 2008. There are two problems with this scenario: One, it will require a meltdown by the Democrats. Two, it will require the GOP to nominate someone so bizarre that would scare a significant portion of Republicans. I don't see either happening!

Our undemocratic 2-party system, coupled with the even more undemocratic winner-take-all Electoral College, prevents any third party from becoming viable, their role reduced to that of mere spolers. And if the Democrats are going to win the White House, what rational person would want to prevent that?

[liberalpragmatist]

3. 1912 was a 4-way race

Democrats: Woodrow Wilson // Thomas Marshall (42%, 435 e.v.)
Republican: William Howard Taft // Nicholas Butler (23%, 8 e.v.)
Progressive: Theodore Roosevelt // Hiram Johnson (28%, 88 e.v.)
Socialist: Eugene V. Debs // Emil Seidel (6%, 0 e.v.)

Even the Prohibition Party candidate cracked 1%, getting about 1.5%.

[snowbear]

4. Well..

If Nader shows up again in 2008 .. I sure as hell hope someone along the lines of Perot also jumps in.

[splat]

5. There were four indies in 2004

Ralph Nader, Michael Badnarik, Michael Peroutka and David Cobb.