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crack 3% of the popular vote in 2000 -- yet he completely changed the outcome of that race.

Gary Johnson, meanwhile, is currently polling at 5.3% in the latest Zogby national poll.

ASKING THE WRONG QUESTION

When people think of third party candidates and the presidential race, they often ask the wrong question: Can they win?

The answer, so far, has been no. Ross Perot's on-again, off-again candidacy in 1992 largely self-destructed (though he did still win 19% of the popular vote), and Ralph Nader received just 2.74% of the popular vote in 2000.

But the relevant question isn't whether a third party candidate can win -- it's whether they can effect the final outcome of the race.

In 1992, Perot's drew much of his 19% support from George H.W. Bush -- and sent Bill Clinton to the Oval Office with just 43% of the popular vote.

Ralph Nader's 2.74% in 2000 didn't stop Al Gore from winning the popular vote nationally.
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