Likely voters agree that third party candidates should participate in the debates, but should be limited to those with higher profiles, a recent Zogby poll shows.

The nationwide survey of 1,005 likely voters reveals that a great deal of support is shown for Green Party's Ralph Nader (news - web sites) (60.9% to 29.0%) and Reform candidate Pat Buchanan (news - web sites) (58.7% to 34.2%) to be allowed to participate in the presidential debates. Less support can be seen for Libertarian Harry Browne (44.2% to 39.9%).

Voters were not so supportive of the lesser-known party representatives: Natural Law's John Hagelin (news - web sites) (38.3% participate to 41.7% not participate), Constitution party's Howard Phillips (38.5% participate to 42% not participate), and Socialist David McReynolds (news - web sites) (35.3% participate and 45.4% not participate).

Support for particular candidates' participation differs among the three major party affiliations.

Democrats support Nader (60.6% to 27.5), Buchanan (54.8% to 37.2%), Browne (42.7% to 39.3%) and Hagelin (39.9% to 37.1%), while not supporting Phillips (39.1% to 37.7%) or McReynolds 41.5% to 35.6%).

Republicans support Nader (55.6% to 34.5%) and Buchanan (56.7% to 37.1%), while not supporting Browne (43.5% to 40.8%), Hagelin (48.4% to 32.6%), Phillips (48.6% to 33.6%) and McReynolds (52.2% to 30%).

Independents show a margin of support for all candidates' participation in the debates, but they are split on the participation of Socialist David McReynolds with 42.5% not supporting his participation and 41.6% supporting him.

What we asked

"I'm going to read you a list of presidential candidates. Please tell me if you believe each candidate should or should not be allowed to participate in the upcoming Presidential debates with Democrat Al Gore (news - web sites) and Republican George W. Bush (news - web sites).

Green Party's Ralph Nader

Reform Party's Pat Buchanan

Natural Law's John Hagelin

Libertarian Harry Browne

Constitution's Howard Phillips

Socialist David McReynolds"

A version of this appeared in Reuters/Zogby (9/13/00).