Submitted by Eric Dixon, Oct 16, 2007 12:01

As a former ballot access attorney for the Reform Party as well as for numerous candidates, I have seen a lot of potential for viable third party candidates -- and for the parties themselves -- get squandered since Ross Perot's historic 1992 presidential bid. One of the problems is that prospective political parties have almost always looked for some "sugar daddy" upon whose coattails they can ride. A third party will emerge when it can be self-organizing and self-sustaining, and this includes ballot access (getting on the ballot, petitioning, etc.). The true litmus test for the Independence Party (whose Mr. Mackay is allegedly a former associate of the reputed cult leader Dr. Fulani, from whom he now tries to distance himself) is posed by the question: If I were Mike Bloomberg, why would I associate with these people, when I can do an independent (non-party) bid just as easily and without the baggage from people whom I don't know? A viable third party will not emerge until and unless it can convincingly and credibly answer this question.

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