http://www.onlinegamers.org/2008/09/11/third-party-voting-for-dummies/

Start with the data on fivethirtyeight as to which states are likely to dominate red or blue, and then after listing super red or super blues, note if Barr is going to be on the ballot.

I’m in a state that is 2:1 McCain, in a zipcode that donates 2:1 McCain.

Pollster.com has me as a “yellow” or swing state (wouldn’t that be purple?).

Do all the states count popular votes towards electoral votes equally, is there information collated somewhere where one person could say “okay, this state is going this way, so if I vote red it means not much, if I vote blue it means not much, but if I vote Barr it means we’re closer to the mythical 15%.

I’m looking at this for my state, but a plea such as yours could be helped, I think, with access to more complete data that could help folks make that determination easily.

Thing is, it doesn’t HAVE to “always” be that way. It’s not about the final goal, it’s about building the momentum to get there. There has to be a meaningful NATIONAL discourse that doesn’t involve “Sarah Palin’s daughter’s pregnant” or whatever mudslinging crap’s going on now.

I’d be all about throwing everything behind ANY party that can get REAL change discussed on a national level. If I could help push the Greens over 15% polling or 5% popular vote, I’d do it. Right now, the realistic chance is the LP.

Of course, Congressional seats are another matter. That’s where 3rd parties can succeed, so that’s where they should focus their efforts.