The Independent Party of Oregon supports HB 2588, which would make Presidential elections more meaningful in Oregon and other states not typically labeled "battleground" areas. For the past decade and more, Presidential campaigns have focused heavily on just a few states (Florida, states in the upper Midwest, and just lately some Rocky Mountains states), where the major party candidates run close races. The candidates have all but completely ignored Pacific Coast, New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southern (except Florida) and Great Plains states.

A detailed national poll (Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg) in late June 2008 shows that, as a candidate for President, Ralph Nader pulls 3 times more votes from McCain than from Obama. This is the opposite of the conventional wisdom.

When Nader and Bob Barr are added to the race, Nader pulls away 6% of McCain's support but only 2% of Obama's support. Barr pulls away 5% of McCain's support and 0% of Obama's support. So having both Nader and Barr in the race reduces McCain's vote by 11% and reduces Obama's vote by only 2%.

Thus, it appears that the Democrats should be encouraging both Nader and Barr to qualify for state ballots.

The full study is at http://www.calendarlive.com/media/acrobat/2008-06/40351172.pdf

We are pleased to welcome James H. (Jim) Weaver, six-term Congressman from Oregon (D), as a senior advisor. He has a family tradition of independent politics and is three generations removed from his namesake, James Baird Weaver of Iowa.

James B. Weaver was an independent thinker and third party activist who has the distinction of being the only third party presidential candidate to receive enough Oregon votes to gain Electoral College votes from Oregon.