Simple fact:  Third party and independent candidates siphon off votes from the major candidate they most represent.  This will continue to be the case until we adopt preferential balloting..which, of course, will not happen.  You may make efforts to distract from this issue and from the impact of Nader's candidacy on the results in Florida, but they will not be effective.  Nader's refusal to drop from the race was instrumental in Gore's defeat.  That's a simple fact.

We don't know the net impact of Mr. Johnson's candidacy.  We do know that the voters who support him would have possibly voted for one of the other of the two major candidates instead.  Those Johnson votes are, by definition, counterproductive.  I'd be happy to discuss this with you sometime.  Give me a call.  regards, Gary