New LP.org poll: What’s the most important impact of Libertarian campaigns?
Early results:
Turning on voters to Libertarian solutions and their benefits 22%
Bringing in new members/voters/supporters 0%
Debunking claims of Democratic and Republican politicians who say more government is better 0%
Exposing Democratic and Republican politicians who pretend to be libertarian 0%
Getting Libertarians elected who remove or reduce excess government and advance freedom 13%
Giving voters a choice to vote Libertarian 4%
Challenging opponents so they move their positions in a libertarian direction 0%
Hard to choose. All or most of above are important. 61%
Something else 0%
Total votes: 23
http://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/poll-results-libertarians-say-there-are-multiple-important-impacts-of-libertarian
“Post-Barr Libertarians offer 3 sides of the same pyramid”
……unless it is a 4 sided pyramid!
Barr was just a case of indigestion. We’re past that now.
Post-Barr Libertarians offer 3 sides of the same pyramid.
Since CA voters passed the Voter Nominated Top Two Primary/General Election it is even more important for voters to vote minor party in June and NOTA in Nov so we can overturn the Top Two system. The main purpose for a minor party is education unless and until they can elect candidates who then do even more educating. Electing non partisan candidates is never the job of a political party!
It depends on the circumstances. In a winnable race, especially for a small office without much visibility, getting Libertarians elected is a big selling point. The Presidential campaign is important for each of those reasons except winning–for now. In visible state level campaigns, exposing voters to Libertarian ideas and attracting new supporters (or gaining name recognition to win next time) is a better goal.
Every candidate should identify their objectives before they decide whether to run at all, and structure their campaign to accomplish those goals.
That was early results. The poll is just starting. Here’s an update:
Turning on voters to Libertarian solutions and their benefits 17%
Bringing in new members/voters/supporters 4%
Debunking claims of Democratic and Republican politicians who say more government is better 4%
Exposing Democratic and Republican politicians who pretend to be libertarian 2%
Getting Libertarians elected who remove or reduce excess government and advance freedom 13%
Giving voters a choice to vote Libertarian 9%
Challenging opponents so they move their positions in a libertarian direction 6%
Hard to choose. All or most of above are important. 40%
Something else 4%
Total votes: 47
All of the above, obviously. But I do think “Challenging opponents so they move their positions in a libertarian direction.” is an under-appreciated aspect of third-party campaigns in general, and the LP in particular. It is the counterpoint to the spoiler argument, and the explanation of why the supporting and voting for third-parties is strategically rational behavior, even under the assumption that they have a near-zero chance of winning.
Total votes 23? 0% for new supporters… Something’s amiss.
I voted for bringing in new supporters, etc. But, really, I agree with Paulie. Most of those things are important.
Putting a name and a face to “none of the above”
Hard to choose. All or most of above are important.