The problem is the system of election you have, as already noted: winner-takes-all. We have the same kind of setup. It's the only reason we (UK)'ve had any majority governments, in the last 50 years at least... if you manage to change the US electoral system to some form of proportional representation, then smaller parties are certainly in with a chance.
Whe would have more Competition except the Repubocratic party controls the the election Access, and will go to extraordinaire means* to prevent 2nd parties from gaining Ballot access.
When the Public Funding Bill was Drafted, Special care was taken to prevent any 2nd Party from getting the Funds needed to break the Repubocratic monopoly on Power.
So the year before the Election Repubocrat Mr R, announces and starts to raise 50 million for his campaign.
At the same time Repubocrat Mr D also announces and starts Fund Raising.
The national Media carry the Press conferences live, and repeat the annoucement in both the National and local evening news.
The National and local papers carry the annoucement as the days headline.
At the same time 2nd party, Mr L announces, There are no TV or Radio Reporters, and the couple of Newspapers who sent reporters carry the announcement as one of the, 1 Paragraph Burbs on page 2.
But by years end all have raised 50 Million $$$$$.
Mr R, and Mr D start spending on their Campaigns. Mr L starts the long and increasingly difficult campaign to gain Ballot access.
Speaker of the Illinois House --
"This Bill will double the number of Signatures needed to gain Ballot access, and cut the time to get them in Half. almost Guaranteeing no third Party will be able to succeed. Because if there are more than 2 names on the Ballot, they will be so confused they will not know who to Vote For"
The Bill was then Seconded by the Opposition Leader.
The Bill was Passed 98-2 [Abstentions]
Septembre rolls around and the conventions are over. The two Repubocratic conventions got massive media coverage.
The 2nd parties are lucky to get one or two lines on network news at the end of the programs.
Mr R, Mr D and Mr L, approach the Repubocratic Chairman of the Public funding Committee.
'Here your 50 Million Mr R & Mr D. Sorry, Mr L you are not eligible for funding. BUT, if you get 5% or more in the Election Whe will cover your expenses."
The election approches Mr R & Mr D spend their 50 million and for every $ they spend in National or local Market, the Media throws in 4$, in Free Media.
Mr L spends 16 million [most of his supporters were tapped out raising the Ballot 50 million] For each $ He spends the Media throws in 25 cents in free media.
For his 250 million Mr R gets 50 million Votes plus/minus several percent.
For his 250 million Mr D gets 50 million Votes plus/minus several percent.
the Plus/Minus determining the Winner
For his 20 million Mr R gets 4 million Votes plus/minus several percent.
Sorry Mr L. Better luck next time











Except look at the cost /vote
This is the reason why the Media took Perot's threat to spend over 50 Million of his own money so serious.
* When LaRouche's Social Democrat candidates managed to win the Democratic Nominations for various State Offices in Illinois, The State Democratic Party Leadership, sent out Flyer's to every registered Democrat, urging them to vote for the Republican Candidates.