Why Do Independents Run?

[Donald Trump’s Toupée]

This is being spawned off after the topic regarding Trump's statement.

I really don't understand it: Independents/3rd party candidates know they won't win the election. They also know they help ruin the chances of the party they split from. So what gives?

See: Perot, Nader, etc

[Historia Crux]

This is being spawned off after the topic regarding Trump's statement.

I really don't understand it: Independents/3rd party candidates know they won't win the election. They also know they help ruin the chances of the party they split from. So what gives?

See: Perot, Nader, etc

Well Perot had a chance in the beginning in '92, but the major reason for independent runs are to usually highlight issues or more out of some kind of principle. Perot ran to highlight the budget and deficit. Nader ran because he believed Gore and Bush were one in the same.

[Yelnoc]

If by independent you include third parties, multiple reasons.  "Independents" like Teddy Roosevelt 1912 and Ross Perot 1992 actually had a shot at winning.  Third parties such as the Greens, Libertarians, and Socialist run in an effort to spread an ideology and support regional candidates.  Others run because they have massive ego problems. 

[feeblepizza]

I would say just to make a statement. It's not like they think they can win.

[CatoMinor]

I would say just to make a statement. It's not like they think they can win.

Paul R. LePage   Republican    218,065    38.07%
Eliot R. Cutler   Independent    208,270    36.36%

John Hickenlooper Democratic 912,005    51.01%
Tom Tancredo American Const. 651,232    36.43%
Dan Maes Republican    199,034    11.13%

Lincoln D. Chafee Independent    123,571    36.10%
John F. Robitaille  Republican    114,911    33.57%

Lowell P. WeickerA Connecticut Party     40.36%
John G. Rowland   Republican                   37.49%

Owens Democrat 48.3%    
Hoffman Conservative 46.0%

and here is an oldy but a goody

James Buchanan    Democratic  45.29%    
John Fremont    Republican    33.09%    


Just to name a few

[feeblepizza]

I would say just to make a statement. It's not like they think they can win.

Paul R. LePage   Republican    218,065    38.07%
Eliot R. Cutler   Independent    208,270    36.36%

John Hickenlooper Democratic 912,005    51.01%
Tom Tancredo American Const. 651,232    36.43%
Dan Maes Republican    199,034    11.13%

Lincoln D. Chafee Independent    123,571    36.10%
John F. Robitaille  Republican    114,911    33.57%

Lowell P. WeickerA Connecticut Party     40.36%
John G. Rowland   Republican                   37.49%

Owens Democrat 48.3%    
Hoffman Conservative 46.0%

and here is an oldy but a goody

James Buchanan    Democratic  45.29%    
John Fremont    Republican    33.09%    


Just to name a few

I said it's not like they think they can win. They can win, though.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

James Buchanan    Democratic  45.29%    
John Fremont    Republican    33.09%    

Republicans were already a major party in 1856.

[Decentralist]

I would say just to make a statement. It's not like they think they can win.

Paul R. LePage   Republican    218,065    38.07%
Eliot R. Cutler   Independent    208,270    36.36%

John Hickenlooper Democratic 912,005    51.01%
Tom Tancredo American Const. 651,232    36.43%
Dan Maes Republican    199,034    11.13%

Lincoln D. Chafee Independent    123,571    36.10%
John F. Robitaille  Republican    114,911    33.57%

Lowell P. WeickerA Connecticut Party     40.36%
John G. Rowland   Republican                   37.49%

Owens Democrat 48.3%    
Hoffman Conservative 46.0%

and here is an oldy but a goody

James Buchanan    Democratic  45.29%    
John Fremont    Republican    33.09%    


Just to name a few

A lot of these, however, had already established themselves under one of the major parties. Tancredo had been a Republican congressman before running for governor, and Chafee and Weicker had been Republican senators. Pure independents - those who have never held office as a Democrat or Republican - perform well much less frequently.

[RI]

I would say just to make a statement. It's not like they think they can win.

Paul R. LePage   Republican    218,065    38.07%
Eliot R. Cutler   Independent    208,270    36.36%

John Hickenlooper Democratic 912,005    51.01%
Tom Tancredo American Const. 651,232    36.43%
Dan Maes Republican    199,034    11.13%

Lincoln D. Chafee Independent    123,571    36.10%
John F. Robitaille  Republican    114,911    33.57%

Lowell P. WeickerA Connecticut Party     40.36%
John G. Rowland   Republican                   37.49%

Owens Democrat 48.3%    
Hoffman Conservative 46.0%

and here is an oldy but a goody

James Buchanan    Democratic  45.29%    
John Fremont    Republican    33.09%    

Just to name a few

A lot of these, however, had already established themselves under one of the major parties. Tancredo had been a Republican congressman before running for governor, and Chafee and Weicker had been Republican senators. Pure independents - those who have never held office as a Democrat or Republican - perform well much less frequently.

Bernie Sanders has never run as anything but an Independent. It can happen.

[memphis]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

This is being spawned off after the topic regarding Trump's statement.

I really don't understand it: Independents/3rd party candidates know they won't win the election. They also know they help ruin the chances of the party they split from. So what gives?

See: Perot, Nader, etc

Because, even though independents do not win, they often influence the outcome and public debate.

[Donald Trump’s Toupée]

This is being spawned off after the topic regarding Trump's statement.

I really don't understand it: Independents/3rd party candidates know they won't win the election. They also know they help ruin the chances of the party they split from. So what gives?

See: Perot, Nader, etc

Because, even though independents do not win, they often influence the outcome and public debate.

Correct.

But Trump is running as a Republican (for an example). If he loses the the nomination, he may run as an independent. If he runs as an independent, he draws some Republican votes. By drawing Republican votes he helps Obama. By originally being a Republican candidate, why would he want to help Obama when he knows he has no chance of winning?

It literally makes no sense.

[© tweed]

the species won't survive if the D-R duopoly is preserved much longer. don't ridicule those who try.

[Napoleon]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism

That applies to anyone running though.

[Cincinnatus]

To make a point.  The two party system we currently "enroll" ourselves into doesn't work.  Washington warned against political parties in general, but that's impossible now.  The next best alternative is to try and push more parties into American politics.