Comment Re:Both Ways (Score 1) 511
It has been quite possible for a third party candidate to win. Here are some examples.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Perot_presidential_campaign,_1992
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Nader_presidential_campaign,_2000
There are probably a few more, but these were the ones I could find most readily. They were on the ballot in most/all states. It gets easier if you look at smaller elections. There are a few in the house right now, IIRC.
Voicing your support for a third party candidate has the same value as supporting any other candidate. I would actually assert that it has a bit more value, really, as it shows you are disillusioned with the two party system and your choice between Tweedledee and Tweedledum. If more people broke free of the fallacious "throwing away your vote" argument, I could see the situation improving. Perhaps not a reformation of the system entirely, but the two parties might just perk up and listen a bit, in fear of independents actually gaining ground.