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Which 'third party' could shake up the U.S. election?

by Community Team Posted: February 3, 2012 1:09 PM Last Updated: February 3, 2012 1:47 PM

Categories: World

Roseanne Barr announced Thursday that she's running for the Green Party's nomination for president of the United States.

Rosanne Barr, whose Twitter avatar depicts her as a pirate, wants to run for the U.S. presidency. (Twitter)And this time, the comedian's not joking.

Barr says she's a longtime supporter of the party and looks forward to working with people who share her values. She said the two major parties aren't serving the American people.

"The Democrats and Republicans have proven that they are servants -- bought and paid for by the one per cent -- who are not doing what's in the best interest of the American people," Barr said, echoing slogans of the Occupy Wall Street movement.



Barr has submitted paperwork to the Green Party for her candidacy. The party's presidential nominee will be selected at a convention in Baltimore, Md., in July. Barr tweeted a possible slogan if she should win the nomination.



Another third party, the Libertarian Party, is having its national convention to pick a candidate in May in Las Vegas, Nev. It hopes its platform of small government, low taxes, individual rights and personal privacy will appeal to those who support neither the Democrats nor the Republicans.

Meanwhile, a group called Americans Elect is hoping to run a "national online primary" to nominate an independent, nonpartisan candidate for president.

The group is gathering signatures in an attempt to make it on the ballot in all 50 states. It has certification in 16 states so far.

Americans Elect claims not to be "a traditional third party," but a "second way" to nominate a president. It doesn't have a platform, although it is frequently called centrist in media reports. The group plans use the internet to identify the issues facing the U.S., "shape the debate" and eventually pick a candidate.

Which of these groups will have the biggest impact in the 2012 U.S. presidential election, if any? Do you think a third party could ever take the presidency in the U.S.? Let us know what you think.

With files from the Associated Press.


(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)

Tags: Politics, U.S.