I see an interesting scenario potentially developing.

[bighart]

As the presidential primary season rolls on, I see the potential for both parties to actually come out of this weaker providing the opportunity for a third party to make real strides in establishing itself. We all can see the republican party developing serious fissures along idealogical lines, the far right "conservatives" and the more moderate "progressive republicans". There is no doubt they are a party that has lost it's sense of identity and are trying to remain relevant. It seems to me there is a fissure in the democratic party that is widening as the campaigns of the 2 leading candidates push forward. The division along racial and gender lines is getting ugly and I wonder how many of the supporters of either of these two, Clinton and Obama, would be willing to support the other should they win the nomination. Will this election be one where one camp or the other has a significant number of voters stay home if their candidate is not the nominee? I don't know, but I believe if that happens we may see the development of a third party with the ability to appeal to the dissatisfied from both parties.

[SteppingRazor]

1. Hence the possible Bloomberg run.

That said, though, as an Obama supporter, I will support Hillary when/if she wins the nomination.

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. Or a Nadar run.

x(

[bdamomma]

3. or a Bloomberg/Hagel run???

Bloomberg is a billionaire.

[SteppingRazor]

4. There's been a lot of speculation that Hagel would be his VP, but I'm not sold.

The two men disagree on just about everything except the war.

[TwilightGardener]

6. Not true. They agree on immigration, foreign policy, fiscal issues (both very pro-business)--

Hagel's already said he would have no problem being Bloomberg's VP. He'll find a way to moderate his social conservatism, I'm sure.

[napi21]

5. Concerning the Dems, I can only speak for myself, but I will

support the Dem nominee no matter who it is. I think the majority of Dems are sooooo disgusted with what the Pubs have done over the last 8-10 years, they will do the same.

The situation with the Pubs is a bit different. They have always been a more vindictive bunch, and they're not only split two ways, they're split between some who still LOVE the Shrub, some who HATE McCain and view him as a traitor for association too closely with the Dems, the Evangelicals who don't like any of the candidates, those who are scared of their own shadow and see Rudy as some HERO, and the "I don't want to pay ANY taxes" group who seem to be leaning toward Mittens. I can see any one or several of those groups staying home on election day because their nominee is simply someone they could NEVER vote for!