# What will it take for a non Rep/Dem to become POTUS?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-it-take-for-a-non-rep-dem-to-become-potus/242533>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [April 28, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-it-take-for-a-non-rep-dem-to-become-potus/242533 "2004-04-28T18:11:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Stonebow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-it-take-for-a-non-rep-dem-to-become-potus/242533/21 "2004-05-03T14:22:53Z")

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sorry for the total breakdown of coding. _sigh_

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**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-it-take-for-a-non-rep-dem-to-become-potus/242533/22 "2004-05-03T22:31:03Z")

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Zagadka:

> [@](#):
>
> The problem with campaigning in the middle is that voters are drawn mostly to polarizing issues (abortion, war, etc), and you CAN’T take a “center” position on those kind of things. If you try, you just end up pissing off both sides, and no one will vote for you.

But a politician can take on a position that combines what to a significant demographic is the most attractive elements of each. Like someone who’s both pro-gun-control and anti-abortion, or something like that. How many people are single-issue voters who might vote for a third party if their preferred stance on the key issue is combined with stances they prefer on secondary issues?

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