Source:
GALLOPJanuary 22, 2008
Voters Not Clamoring for Third-Party Candidacy This Year
Americans seem satisfied with current crop of presidential candidates
by Frank Newport
PRINCETON, NJ -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg continues to mull over the possibility of running for president as an independent candidate, much as fellow billionaire Ross Perot did in 1992. Last week, Bloomberg said, "I am not a candidate." But speculation that he might jump into the presidential race continues unabated, in part because his personal wealth would make it easy for him to begin a campaign without the usual rounds of fund raising, and in part because he refuses to rule out the possibility and expresses obvious interest in running.
There has been much discussion this year about the American public's desire for "change," at a time when the significant majority of Americans indicate that they are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States today, and when there is growing concern about the economy. At the same time, change after this year's election is inevitable, given that the incumbent president and vice president are not running for re-election.
Additionally, recent Gallup polling has assessed some of the public's attitudes that could be related to the ultimate success of an independent or third-party candidate running against the two major-party candidates this year. The data show that Americans are quite positive about the candidates running for president so far, and believe they have suggested good solutions to the nation's problems, marking a sharp contrast with what these same measures showed in early 1992. Thus, while dissatisfaction in general is high, the American public does not appear to believe it is important or necessary for an independent candidate outside of the traditional two major parties to step into the race in order to save the nation.
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http://www.gallup.com/poll/103846/Voters-Clamoring-ThirdParty-Candidacy-Year.aspx