Poll: 57% of Voters Want a Third Major Party

From an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal by Douglas Schoen and Patrick Caddell.  Excerpt:
The United States is in the midst of what we would both call a prerevolutionary moment, and there is widespread support for fundamental change in the system. An increasing number of Americans are now searching beyond the two parties for bold and effective leadership. . . .

What's more, a poll of 1,000 Americans conducted by Douglas E. Schoen LLC in April found that a solid majority of Americans are now looking for alternatives to the two-party system. Overall, a majority (57%) of all respondents said there is a need for a third party.

More than half (51%) of voters favored having a third major political party. Nearly one-third (31%) said that having a third major party in our country is very important. Voters favored having a major third party run a candidate for president in 2012 58%-13%—with one in five saying they were absolutely certain or very likely to vote for a third-party candidate.

In line with these findings, 52% of all respondents in a May Gallup poll said there is a need for a third party, and for the first time in Gallup's history, a majority of Republicans embraced the idea. In a June Rasmussen poll, 30% of respondents said they would consider voting for a third-party candidate for president in 2012.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

I imagine there's a need for more than just a third party, unless those 57% all agree on what the third party ought to be.

Lauralee said...

http://ifyoucouldseemyeyes.blogspot.com/2011/08/wanna-read-this-crazy-conversation.html

TiradeFaction said...

Bret's got a point. I can't image that 57% come from such an similar point of view to incorporate the desire for one united "Third" party.

I think what should be asked is "Do you think the US needs to facilitate a constructive role for multiple parties past the Democrats & Republicans to participate in our democracy?" (Something with more eloquent wording though..)

 
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