Press coverage for third-party candidates seems to be increasing, as more Americans now believe that there is a need for them.
In past elections, primary candidates have dominated press coverage and voters seemed to focus their attention on them. Now, voters seem to be dividing their attention among various parties.
In September, polls taken by Gallup indicated that Americans were divided almost down the middle as to whether or not a third-party candidate would be beneficial. The poll showed that in 2004 about 56 percent believed that Republican and Democratic parties did an adequate job of representing the American people while 40 percent believed that there was a third party needed for better representation.
In 2007, more Americans believed that there was a need for a third party candidate. The polls indicated that between 2007 and 2008, 58 percent of those who took the poll believed that America was in need of a third-party candidate while 33 percent still believed the Democratic and Republican parties represented voters well.
Currently, about 46 percent of Americans feel there is a need for third-party candidates, while 45 percent associate with the Democratic and Republican parties.
Even with an increase interest in political candidates who do not associate with primary parties, there is still limited media coverage on third-party candidates. Third-party candidates do not participate in the same debates as the primary candidates.
In the debates, voters hear the opinions and positions of two candidates and can be unaware of the third-party candidates who are running. The media typically does not cover third-party candidate debates.
Third-party candidate rallies also are lacking in attendance and media coverage.
For example, when Barack Obama visited the University of Wyoming campus in 2008, he was in the Arena Auditorium, or the basketball stadium, while Gary Johnson was in the smaller Education Auditorium.
However, media coverage for third-party candidates has increased compared to previous years.
Bethany Baldes, a state representative candidate for the Libertarian party, says that press coverage for her party and other non-primary candidates has increased in recent years. At Johnson’s speech, Baldes said the first time her father ran for state representative, the press did not contact him for an interview. However, when her father ran again, he received more press coverage.
Now that Baldes is running, she has also received more press coverage while third-party presidential candidates are also now receiving more coverage for the debate they held recently.
Although press coverage for third parties is still not as common as it is for primary parties, third-party candidates are beginning to receive more than in past years.
