Tomorrow’s election day features two important races involving third party/independent candidates: Doug Hoffman, a Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 race, and Chris Daggett, an independent in the New Jersey governor’s race.
John Anderson editorializes on the NJ race, and says that “[t]he true spoiler in this race — and any other election with one winner and more than two candidates — is a plurality-voting rule in which candidates can win without a majority of votes.” He advocates instant runoff voting. (More from Rob Richie on the governors’ races.)
Ross Douthat celebrates the rise of these third party candidacies in the NY Times.
Frank Rich sees the rise of Hoffman in the NY-23 as likely benefiting Democrats nationally.