Still, not one third-party member is in Congress. As for state legislatures, the lone Libertarian lawmaker is running as a Republican in Vermont, and the Greens' only legislator in California quit the party to run as an independent. But this year could bring a higher profile. Greens are running 81 legislative candidates, four times as many as in the last election. Libertarians predict a dozen competitive legislative races, particularly in Nevada, Colorado and Connecticut.
Supporters say the time is ripe for a third-party movement.
If a party could unify the disparate voices out there, the Reform, the Natural Law, the Greens, I believe you'd have the makings for a powerful new generation of politics,'' said Bob Roth, directorof communications for the Natural Law Party. He envisions a new coalition party that forces the Republicans and Democrats to merge. Gillespie, on the other hand, sees an influential third party of the ''militant center'' that combines the Republicans' fiscal demands and the Democrats' social views. Others say third-party advocates are overreaching. The economy is too strong and no third party has made enough significant gains yet, said Cal Jillson, chairman of political science at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.