The threat of the third party

"Alarmed at the possibility that the Republican Party might pick Rudolph Giuliani as its presidential nominee despite his support for abortion rights, a coalition of influential Christian conservatives is threatening to back a third-party candidate. Participants said the group included James C. Dobson of Focus on the Family; Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council; Richard A. Viguerie, the direct-mail pioneer; and dozens of other politically oriented conservative Christians." - New York Times.

Well, they're going over the edge again. It's still a long way until the general election of 2008. Are we in a permanent campaign cycle these days? Is that what it takes to get the attention of voters? Or, perhaps I should say "potential" voters since turnout is so poor.