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.
