Could any Independent run and make a significant impact on the election?

Yes. The significant impact is that they'll typically take away voters from one of the main parties.

In 1980, Anderson got a non-insignificant chunk of the vote, but it didn't affect anything because Reagan won in a landslide (thank God!).

In 1992, Perot took a lot of Republican votes (he got 20% of the total popular vote) from incumbent George HW Bush, thus garnering Clinton the presidency with only 43% of the vote.

Perot took over 8% of the popular vote in 1996, but it was considered not to have been a major factor.

Nader was possibly responsible for Bush winning in 2000, because the voting was very close between Bush and Gore, and those few fractions of a % could have tipped the scales towards Gore. This is the one and only time I had anything nice to say about Nader.

But, as for the chances of winning. Zero. Spoiler role only.

Because the US has a winner-take-all, non-coalition, non-parliamentary government, there is little chance for a 3rd party to gain power.

It's easier to get the message out by working inside one of the major parties. If Ron Paul was a Libertarian, nobody would have heard of him. As a Republican, he's gotten much better exposure, and his ideas have gotten much better dissemination.

Yes. They would have to be a uniter rather than corrupt businessman lawyer like the present politicians running for office.

I thought Giuliani would do better than he did given hes running Republican.

The current supply of candidates does not meet the criteria for an independent run. Joe Lieberman, former Democrat,did not have a chance either even tho he was selected as VP 8 years ago. Given the right circumstances and issues, I think the right independent will run and win. Where they are, I have no idea.

Yes. Ron Paul could be a "spoiler candidate", I don't think he could win in the general election, though. The only way I see that a third party candidate could possibly win the GE is if say Ron Paul, Ralph Nader, Bloomberg, and someone like Huckabee all ran as Independents. That would level the playing field.

I would like to think the US is a color blind society. My disagreements with Obama are not about his race, but rather his political stands of increased government control. Oprah, who is seen as a champion for women, endorsed Obama over Hillary Clinton who was probably the first woman with a real shot at being president. I was shocked that she shunned Hillary and endorsed a man. I think it will hard for a woman to get on the ballot because it seem America is just not ready for a woman president (I wish we were). I would like to see Hillary run in 2012, but she may not and will likely not run in 2016 because she would be 68 year old then.

Great question. With Bloomburg in the wings (he is the only viable one in my book). I think it really depends on whether Romney or McCain get the nomination. If McCain gets it, he is closer to the center, and he probably wouldn't have an impact. If Romney gets it and doesn't pick Rudy for VP (which I would doubt), I bet Mike is in for the people in the center. If it is Obama, he could take just enough to let him win. If its Hillary vs. Romney, he might actually have a chance.

Yes. Ron Paul but you can vote for Obama. He is not about liberal or conservative. He is about America. Remember if all your neighbor are poor and sick, it does affect you no matter how well off you may be. What is wrong in giving health coverage to 52 million Americans that do not have health coverage? Mentally unstable person without health coverage could kill you easily than imagines terrorist. It has happened in the school shootings. Vote for people with insight. Obama has insight and voted against Iraq war. The GOP leadership and Hilary without insight voted for that war. The result is death of patriotic innocent over 4000 brothers, sisters, fathers, sons, daughters of America. Dementia is partly lack of insight/poor sense of judgment. McCain is too old and definitely lacks sense of judgment. Move AMERICA FORWARD. V ote for America not for party. Vote for your well being and the well being of your country as well as that of your neighbours.

I want Gore still. I have voted for him twice now at Yahoo as person to make third party run.

I will say that there are some third party names I am hearing that I have never heard of before.

If you are referring on the U.S. presidential election this year, there is non yet. If ever there is one, he cannot win because of the two party system.

Ralph Nader.