Obviously we are in the midst of a Presidential election. The presumptive nominees for the two major parties, Republican and Democrat, have been selected. They will not be the official party standard bearers until the two parties hold their national conventions later in the summer. Some people have wondered why third party candidates don't typically factor into our national elections as they often do in other western democracies. What are some of the reasons for this and what if anything can other political parties do to raise their visibility to be more competitive? Also, do you think Americans are generally inclined to vote for just one of the two major party candidates or can so called third parties become more competitive like those in other western democracies.

In no less than a 500 word essay, answer the above questions. A substantive response to two other students is required as usual for possible full credit.