Congressional three-ways

With all the focus on Nader and Barr, don't look now but third-party candidates could muck up a few House races.

By Thomas Schaller

Published August 12, 2008 6:59PM (EDT)

It's not just Ralph Nader and Bob Barr: Third-party candidates can also have an effect on downballot races.

Or so warns Nathan Gonzales of the Rothenberg Political Report. Gonzales, who was a participant recently in a Salon conversation forecasting the 2008 Senate contests, takes a look at three House races (in Ohio, New Jersey and Louisiana) that could be tipped because of third-party candidacies.

For you congressional election junkies out there -- or folks just looking for a break from presidential campaign coverage -- Gonzales' piece is worth a look.


By Thomas Schaller

Thomas F. Schaller is professor of political science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the author of "Whistling Past Dixie: How Democrats Can Win Without the South." Follow him @schaller67.

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