The Independents
Episode two examines two of the rare but noteworthy third-party candidacies of Ross Perot and Ralph Nader, which brought chaos to the race for the US presidency.
Americans have become used to the idea that running for President is a two-party affair, but as we've seen recently, that's not the way it has to be. Over the last quarter of a century, two very bold candidates have run as third-party contenders. In 1992, it was Ross Perot, a short Texas billionaire with a distinctive twang and a bold, refreshing, no-nonsense approach. He launched his campaign as a lark during a charming interview on Larry King Live, his appearance going "viral" and creating a strong "Draft Perot" movement. But as he shot up in the polls, his opponents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton were forced to take him very seriously, and this was the very first time a third party candidate had such a strong support base. Ralph Nader spent decades in the public eye and affected the lives of millions of people around the world as a consumer advocate, but after jumping into the ring for the 2000 election, he is now best remembered as an independent party contender who may have changed the course of history. You can call these third party candidates difficult, fearless or risible but whatever you do, don't call them spoilers.
Last on
Broadcasts
- Sat 22 Oct 2016 04:10GMT麻豆官网首页入口 News except North America, UK & UK HD
- Sat 22 Oct 2016 15:10GMT麻豆官网首页入口 News except North America, UK & UK HD
- Sun 23 Oct 2016 09:10GMT麻豆官网首页入口 News except North America, UK & UK HD
- Sun 23 Oct 2016 21:10GMT麻豆官网首页入口 News except North America, UK & UK HD