Do the Libertarians have any momentum?
The chart below shows the total votes for Libertarian electors in the Electoral College in U.S. presidential elections in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012.
With State Data Lab, we can compare states in terms of how many votes the Libertarians are getting, and the growth in those votes. We can also compare states on their economic, demographic, and financial characteristics, and get a feel for the sources of possible growth in Libertarian voting.
For example, there does not appear to be a simple relationship between state government financial conditions and the growth in Libertarian votes, looking across the 50 states.
But we are going to take a closer look.