3 parties!

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

The Tea Party is able to play it's hand successfully on this debt business, and Obama goes down in flames in 2012. The problem is that they end up fighting with Republicans a whole bunch, as President Romney is not exactly tea-party friendly. The Tea Party announces they'll be striking out on their own!

At the same time, the Democratic Party is getting mighty upset at their politicians, and a renewed left faction strikes out on their own as well.

This happens within a short period of time from one another over the summer of 2013, and the media whips it up into a "Constitutional Crisis" as there are now 4 parties in Congress. In an uncommon show of unity, the rump moderate Republicans and rump moderate Democrats form a technical group, the Democratic-Republicans, in order to retain a Majority in both houses of Congress.

In 2014, there is some fighting between D's and R's, but the two parties sign back-room deals to not run against each other in various places, making GOP vs TEA and Democrat VS Progressive fights commonplace.

When 2016 rolls around, Romney decides he's had enough. The Democratic-Republicans also decide (partly due to low polling numbers) to run a joint ticket, an option that seems popular. They decide to use Green since the Tea Party likes Blue, and the Progressives like Red. When "Election season" kicks into high gear, the polls show all 3 tickets above 30%.

Now the fun bit!
Do a map of the results!!!

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

[Niemeyerite]

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Man, it'd be one heck of a geedeeffing mess one way or another.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

This is actually a REVERSE map. Showing which party would be in 3rd place in each state.

Based on:
http://bshor.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/npat_boxplot_marked_simple_thumb.png?w=436&h=724

Though I also feel it would evolve into this

over a short period of time.