Libertarian candidate in not-so-close race - NJ Senate

[Thorgrim]

Even though he has not won the primary, and I haven't seen any signs that he will, Libertarian Republican (funny eh?) Sabrin has a Rasmussen head-to-head poll with incumbent Democrat...pretty unpopular Frank Lautenburg

Lautenburg (D) - 54%
Sabrin (R) - 35%

Rasmussen Reports™: The most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a presidential election.

About a 20 point lead, and this is all while Lautenburg is hitting the typical Jersey politician lows, and hasn't run any isssues ads, and also Sabrin has yet to be the subject of any negative ads

This is why the race is listed as "Safe Democrat"

[Phantom]

To be fair, running as a Democrat in Jersey is generally a good spot to be in.

[Publius]

libertarian Republican =/= Libertarian.

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by Publius

libertarian Republican =/= Libertarian.

I know, it's unfair to all the non-libertarians to say such, because he's going to get 30-35% of the vote regardless because 30-35% of NJ will vote (R) regardless of who is on the ballot, most of them probably won't even know what a libertarian is...

This is an accurate result, from less than 2 years ago, of what Libertarian support there is in New Jersey...even when facing an incredibly unpopular Republican Party, and a Democrat who was savaged in the media by accusation after accusation of being completely corrupt...everyone had to take a big second pause and think of a 3rd party candidate:

Menendez (D)
1,165,596 53%

Kean, Jr. (R)
976,904 45%

Flynn (L)
14,337 1%
CNN.com - Elections 2006

Funny 2 million votes...14k...that's actually less than 1%...but they were nice and rounded up to 1%...see how nice CNN is to Libertarians?



And they get no respect for it

[Publius]

Your point? I received almost 25% of the vote with no campaigning in 2006 as a Libertarian candidate. The only thing you're proving here is that the Democrats and Republicans have a monopoly on elections due to built-in party recognition, congratulations on proving something everyone already knows.

[Thorgrim]

I don't see how you're helping your point by saying there is low recognition of libertarians, and you countered this by doing no campaigning...to get almost 25% in some state race in TX?

I thought monopoly was a communist word? What I don't understand is why Libertarians don't more readibly accept it when they lose in the marketplace of ideas, shouldn't they go out of business and let a new LP form that could do better?

Here you are, complaining about unfair market conditions? That doesn't sound very Libertarian at all to me...

As far as "name recognition" I agree a lot of people don't know a libertarian is...or a liberal or conservative for that matter

but 99% of those who vote? I don't think so...a lot of those numbers have to do with rejection

[JaJae]

Doesn't matter if he's a Republican or Libertarian, he's not beating a Democrat in NJ. He's actually not doing too bad considering the political climate out here.