# Why are there only 2 candidates in the presidential debate?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-only-2-candidates-in-the-presidential-debate/267995>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [October 7, 2004, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-only-2-candidates-in-the-presidential-debate/267995 "2004-10-07T07:33:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Optihut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/edb3f5/32.png) [@Optihut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Optihut)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-only-2-candidates-in-the-presidential-debate/267995/21 "2004-10-07T21:24:19Z")

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Actually I just mentioned Nader, because that’s the third name I hear most often in this context. I guess I should have stuck to my usual example of saying “Mickey Mouse” instead, so that nobody gets offended 😉

But the issue was cleared up with that 15% rule, that actually makes sense.

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-only-2-candidates-in-the-presidential-debate/267995/22 "2004-10-07T21:28:52Z")

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> [@Liberal](#):
>
> The Libertarian candidate is routinely on every state ballot.

And routinely gets only a tine % of the vote:

2000: .36%  
1996: .50%  
1992: .28%  
1988: .50%  
1984: .30%  
1980: 1.1%

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-only-2-candidates-in-the-presidential-debate/267995/23 "2004-10-07T21:29:56Z")

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that’s **tiny** %…

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**Author:** ![alimarx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@alimarx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alimarx)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-only-2-candidates-in-the-presidential-debate/267995/24 "2004-10-07T21:44:54Z")

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> [@BobLibDem](#):
>
> …They haven’t earned the right to be on the stage.

“Earn”, as on $$, being the operative word here…

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**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-only-2-candidates-in-the-presidential-debate/267995/25 "2004-10-08T16:27:35Z")

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[Moderator Hat ON]

WeirdWithWords, STOP using your dad’s account. It’s confusing, and against the rules.

[Moderator Hat OFF]

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**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-only-2-candidates-in-the-presidential-debate/267995/26 "2004-10-08T22:03:36Z")

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What is this Constituion Party thats on the ballot?  
From what I gather, and its not much, its sortof nutty.

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**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-only-2-candidates-in-the-presidential-debate/267995/27 "2004-10-08T22:30:45Z")

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I believe the Constitution Party is for elimination of the separation of church of state.

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