Sean Sullivan has this Washington Post column, arguing that the entry of a Libertarian, Rob Sarvis, in the race is not likely to affect the identity of the winner. The column contains the exit polling data for the 2013 Virginia gubernatorial race to support its conclusion.
1. How many voters tell the pollsters —
(a) to go to Hell for invading privacy
(b) LIES to have FALSE polling data for the moron media to rave on about ???
While I believe the writer of that article dismisses Sarvis too easily (there are still plenty of people ticked off at both ruling parties, and at least some of them would jump at the chance to vote for a Libertarian, Green, or etc.), it’s otherwise an excellent article that points out the fact that third parties are good for voter CHOICE. More choices on the ballot means more of our nation’s diverse political opinions are given a voice, and hence it often encourages more voter participation. The whole “spoiler theory” is just pro-Establishment, anti-democratic nonsense.