A new survey out from Data Targeting says there is a possible path for a third party candidate aside from Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, who could collect support from Republicans and Democrats who aren’t happy with their choices this year.
The survey, released Wednesday morning, noted that 58 percent of respondents aren’t happy with the candidates, and that 55 percent favor an independent candidate this year.
“A shocking 91 percent of voters under the age of 29 favor having an independent candidate on the ballot,” it said. It also said 65 percent of respondents “are at least somewhat, pretty or very willing to support a candidate for president who is not Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton.”
A hypothetical ballot test says an independent candidate would start with 21 percent of the vote, and even more in certain regions of the country. Trump would get 34 percent, and Clinton would get 31 percent, but the hope for some is that the independent candidate would see growing support.
Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol, who has been pushing for a third candidate to run, said the survey shows an independent “can get into debates, make his case.”
There is a viable path to victory for a credible independent candidate. Not easy, but doable.https://t.co/DECILg4p6l
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) May 18, 2016
Ballot test: Trump 34%, Clinton 31%, Independent Candidate, 21%. Independent can get into debates, make his case.https://t.co/DECILg4p6l
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) May 18, 2016
Still, it’s becoming tougher and tougher for a candidate to enter, as the filing deadline for Texas has already passed, and deadlines for other key states are fast approaching.
The deadline in Texas was May 9, and deadlines for Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico and North Carolina will expire in June.
