Page "Lesser of two evils principle" Paragraph 10

Supporters of lesser-evil tactics in the United States often cite United States politician Ralph Nader's presidential campaigns as examples of what can happen when a third-party candidate receives a significant number of votes.

They claim that the mere existence of the third-party candidate essentially steals votes (" tilts " or " tips the scales ") from the more progressive of the two main candidates and puts the election in favor of the " worse " candidate — because the small percentage that goes towards the third party candidate is a part " wasted " that could have instead gone to the lesser-evil candidate.

For example, in 2000 as the United States Green Party candidate, Nader garnered 2. 7 % of the popular vote and, as a result, is considered by many U. S. Democrats to have tipped the election to George W. Bush.

One counterargument is that Nader's candidacy likely increased turnout among liberals and that Al Gore took four of the five states — and thirty of the fifty-five electoral college votes — in which the outcome was decided by less than one percent of the vote.