OK, but they are different animals (politically anyway). There are 12 candidates for NJ governor. Excluding the top three the rest are divided between independents and alternative party candidates. I predict that the indies (excluding Daggett) will get more votes than the partisans.

I think indies tend to do better because they are not bound by a rigid ideology or restrictive platform. They have more flexibility to campaign and even change their policies if needed. They are not hamstrung by party activists and ideological purists.

I haven’t seen Daggett’s campaign reports but I did look at NJLP candidate Murray Sabrin’s in 1997 and nearly half of Murray’s expenditures were for administrative overhead, consultant fees and managerial expenses. I’ll bet Daggett’s overhead is alot less than Sabrin because he doesn’t have to pay or be accountable to party regulars to keep them happy.

What “third party movement”? Daggett is an independent candidate and has nothing to do with any political party. That’s been part of his strength is that he appeals across the political spectrum since he is not identified with any party ideology.

I voted for Daggett by mail partly because he isn’t tied to any party ideology or platform.

It’s too bad that the latest polls have Daggett losing support because of “wasted vote syndrome” I think the only way an independent candidate can win in New Jersey is name recognition/celebrity status and/or lots of money.

George Phillies is one of the leaders of the Massachusetts Libertarian Party so I expect his candidate will have that Party’s endorsement if not the Party line. Of course, If I’m wrong, then some other candidate will run as the “Libertarian” candidate and then there will be two libertarian candidates.

Whether he’s independent, libertarian, conservative, socialist, Republican or Democrat doesn’t really matter as far as I’m concerned. It’s still disrespectful and sleazy to exploit the death of Senator Ted Kennedy and run for his seat using the same name as his almost equally famous nephew who, had he chosen to run, would have won easily and was a hundred times more qualified.

Anyone is “allowed” to run for office, and make a complete fool of themselves, provided they meet the legal requirements.

I’m also allowed to call them a fool.

Baloney. It may be the name he was born with, but by any other name I doubt very much he would be in this race. Besides, how long has he been a member of the LP, and how many times has he run for office before as a Libertarian?

This is nothing more than a sleazy publicity stunt which will grab some cheap headlines and then he, like the rest of the LP, will be forgotten.

No one gets to choose the name he was born with, though some may wonder if you are posting under your actual name, or just claiming the wisdom of Solomon. However, Joe Kennedy is running with the name with which he was born. It is a reasonably common name.