I have a companion
diary entry where I justify this, but I saved the conclusion until the end so not many people read it. :-)
Here is the best plan of attack to build the Green Party while not compromising their aims at the same time:
- Work to implement preference voting on a state basis for local races, and eventually statewide offices, national senators, and national congressmen (but NOT for presidential candidates). Also sponsor Green candidates in races where the incumbent would otherwise be unopposed.
- Work to build campaign coalitions between Greens and Democrats for presidential campaigns. If the Greens and Democrats both insist on fielding candidates, and the perception continues that the Green takes Democrat support but both would oppose the Republican, then hold a runoff election between the times of the Green/Democrat conventions, and the national election.
- Continue to treat the electoral college as it was designed: a two-party system. This could conceivably be Green versus Republican. In parallel, if the electoral college is objectionable, work to change it by electing congresscritters that would actually vote to change it.
Until there is significant office-holding support, the Greens should not focus on third-party presidential campaigns.
Continue to my other diary entry to read the reasoning for this strategy.