Could An Independent Win the US Presidency?

[Phi for All]

Both major US political parties seem unwilling to stop bowing to pressure from big business lobbyists. Both are having to contort their own platforms to cater to major protest groups like the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street. It seems like a prime time for an Independent candidate, one who specifically addresses some of the key issues relevant to our current woes, to step up and pledge to stop the nonsense that American politics has become.

 

What would you look for in such a candidate? What platform points would attract you that aren't seriously offered by either the Democrats or the Republicans? What would be a good strategy for overcoming the curse of the Spoiler Effect?

 

To help steer this discussion, if you're a staunch platform Rep/Dem, refrain from posting unless you'd seriously consider voting for an Indy who better represented you. I don't mean to exclude you, but I'd like to hear from those who feel underrepresented by the majors.

 

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As a means to increase the likelihood of future successful Independent candidacies, I think a change from the winner-takes-all voting system would be a key platform point. iNow summed up my feelings on it very nicely in this post in a different thread, and I doubt I could say it any better.

[Imranp]

Yes, if Hilary Clinton runs as an independent, she will win.