America’s third parties, ​like the Libertarian and Green parties, think 2016 could finally be their year to break through to the political mainstream. After all, the majorparty candidates are historically unpopular—with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump at 54 and 58 percent unpopularity, respectively​—and more voters identify as Independent than at any time in recent history. However, the candidacies of past thirdparty nominees don’t inspire much hope. ​In this video​, Atlantic associate editor Nora Kelly breaks down the sociological and systemic obstacles that thirdparty candidates will face in 2016.

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