Non-major party election preview

For those in the non-major party community watching the election results in few weeks, there are a couple of places to take note of:

Illinois -- The Green Party candidate for governor is taking 14% in recent polls and even Randy Stufflebeam's write-in candidacy might actually win a few percentage points with unpopular Democrat and GOP nominees.

Minnesota -- This election the Independence Party can have a place in the Minnesota political milleau instead of just being "DFL light." A good place to start would be in the Fifth Congressional District where IP candidate Tammy Lee has the unofficial endorsement of retiring Congressman Martin Olav Sabo and is facing radical DFLer Keith Ellison. She has the best chance of any IP candidate to win on Election Day and doing so would be a huge boost to the party.

Georgia - Libertarian party candiates are polling well, siphoning votes from unpopular but dominant state GOP in the face of the weak Democrats and could force governor's race into a run-off.

Florida - Reform Party Candidate Max Linn may very well be a spolier in the governor's race

Texas - Four-way governor's race with two independents plus similar situation in Georgia, unpopular but dominant GOP, weak Democrats benefiting LP candidates.

Montanta - Can Rick Jore win a state legislative seat for CP-Montana?

Conneticut - Many Greens (like Ben Manski) would pooh-pooh any alliances with the Democrats but if it means three ex-GOP Congressmen and women and ex-U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman in return for votes for complete pullout of U.S. forces, then the Greens will have accomplished what they've wanted in true third party fashion, moving Dems in their direction.

The LP does have a good deal at stake in this election. If the LP does reasonably well on Election Day, they can say present themselves and their new platform is a positive light of relevance for the first time in a long time and think seriously of strategies for long-term achievement while entertaining possibilities for national alliances with either major party or certain presidential candidates.