August 27, 2008 - 2:44pm
News

Nader, Barr could play spoiler role in NV

A new TIME/CNN poll suggests that independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader could draw enough votes from U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) to affect the outcome of the vote in Nevada.

When asked to choose between the two leading presidential candidates, registered voters gave Obama a 49 percent to 44 percent edge over U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

But when offered a choice between the two major party candidates and three third-party options, Obama's five point lead turns into a 41 percent tie, with third-party candidates receiving a total of 14 percent of voter support.

Independent candidate Ralph Nader attracted 6 percent of the vote, Libertarian candidate Bob Barr received 5 percent, and Green party candidate Cynthia McKinney drew 3 percent.

It's not clear if likely voters would follow the same pattern as registered voters or if third-party voters will turn to one of the two major party candidates as November approaches, but this polls suggests there is an opportunity for McCain and a challenge for Obama in Nevada.

WALLY EDGE can be reached via email at politickernv@aol.com.

Comments

Who spoils for whom?


Nader doesn't take votes that belong to Obama. Why? Because no politician owns votes. People own their votes and entrust them to the politicians they think are best.

I want to vote for Nader. I don't want to vote for Obama. So, don't call my vote Obama's. It doesn't belong to him and it won't unless he changes drastically on a number of issues (which I highly doubt).

If the dominant parties use their clout to squash competition democracy suffers. God didn't etch the names of America's dominant parties on stone tablets.

Let Nader debate and he'll clean Obama's clock.

08/27/08 11:58 pm

nobody is a spoiler


there is NO SUCH THING as a "spoiler"...give me a break

08/28/08 10:40 am

Spoiler is a relative term


One consequence of a single-member, plurality-winner-take-all electoral system is that most voters will almost always gravitate toward two parties. A vote for a candidate likely to finish far behind two others is a vote that could have registered a preference between the two most likely to win. When there is no proportional representation, this means that most voters pick between the two parties perceived to have the largest following.

Insofar as a single vote matters, (which is to say: not at all, given that hundreds of thousands of others will also be cast,) for any American voter at this time, a vote for anyone other than the Democrat or the Republican candidate will almost always be a wasted vote -- unless, of course, the one casting the vote for the third party is truly indifferent between the two, in which case the voter might as well leave the field blank.

08/28/08 4:36 pm

Bob Barr


Please read my article and Please click on THUMBS UP
http://www.nolanchart.com/article4627.html

Also, the campaign is in need of money to spread the message of less government. Please if you get paid , please donate $25 today at www.bobbarr2008.com

08/29/08 11:05 am

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