Trump announces his running mate.

[KingsGambit]

True, but Lincoln had been in the race. However, the back room of that day doesn't function as it did then. No, you'd need a public face that had a fighting chance. Had there been a Perot in this race, yeah, maybe. But there wasn't. No, there won't be a third party hat trick this go round.

I heard the other day that Gary Johnson is nearly to the 15% threshold in polls that would put him on stage at the debates - the one thing that would really give him legitimacy (if not electability).

At least on my own social media, I'm seeing a fair amount of people curious about him.

[Teallaura]

I heard the other day that Gary Johnson is nearly to the 15% threshold in polls that would put him on stage at the debates - the one thing that would really give him legitimacy (if not electability).

At least on my own social media, I'm seeing a fair amount of people curious about him.

Desperate people are attracted to anything that seems like a lifeline.

Besides, Trump and Clinton would both have to be morons to let that happen. It's a turnout battle now - neither one wants or needs a wildcard.

[KingsGambit]

Desperate people are attracted to anything that seems like a lifeline.

Besides, Trump and Clinton would both have to be morons to let that happen. It's a turnout battle now - neither one wants or needs a wildcard.

I don't see how they could just magically keep him from getting at least to the 15% threshold if he got enough momentum going, given how many people are hostile to both candidates. (One Republican candidate's internal polling this week put him at 26% in Utah. Granted, Utah is probably the state most conducive to him because it's very libertarian, and Mormons really don't like Trump...)

I'm open to the idea of voting third party in general; if I do, it's not about that election, it's about the long game and sending implicit messages to the major parties. In this particular case, though, I'm about as opposite of Libertarian as it gets so Johnson is a no go for me.

[Teallaura]

The two major party candidates can and will be dominating the coverage. Same thing Hillary did by announcing her running mate the day after the RNC - steal as much thunder as you can. A late comer indy outmaneuvering BOTH machines? Not very likely.