Doug, I know for a fact there are democrat voters who do not want to support 'tax and spend' policies, but who will not vote for a republican due to the party's platform of anti-gay, pro-war, anti-non-white, pro-Christian, blah, blah, blah positions. In their minds, the evils of deficits and debt are not as bad as what the republicans represent on the social, religious, and war topics. I would never suggest these democrat voters are going to support Ted C, but there is a moderate middle ground available, if we can get more than the standard two parties we have now.
I will agree to disagree with you about the possibility of a third party. For now, and possibly the rest of US existence, you are in the driver's seat and can count on my vote to be thrown away!
Torg (or Clark)