Modeling elections

[DEMOREP1 at aol.com]

Richard wrote in part-

In this case Approval got a lot better. Approval seems to be particularly
sensitive to candidate distribution in your model, and I observed this
in my sims as well. Here's what happens: When candidates are clustered
in some local region of issue space, there is a tendency of Approval
to skew towards that region in simulations of this sort. After thinking
about it a while, I realized that this isn't real-world voter behavior.
Imagine two clone candidates in an Approval election. Each voter will
either approve both, or disapprove both. But if the clones become the
two front-runners, then each one only has a 50% chance. This is then
equivalent to the situation where the clones are represented by a
single proxy, and if that proxy wins, she will pick one of the clones
at random to be the winner. The proxy will not pick up any additional
votes by representing two (or any number of) candidates. If they are
only near-clones, then the effect will be diminished, but should still
be very strong. The more they are separated, the weaker the effect,
with the effect vanishing when the candidates are all evenly spread
out.
---
D- 

Desired (none, 1 or more -- with possible clones) >>>  
Compromise (none, 1 or more -- with possible clones) >>> 
Unacceptable (none, 1 or more -- with possible clones)

How many real live choices (with or without clones) for U.S.A. President can 
get 50 percent plus 1 Approval Votes ???

Could it be those choices (in *normal* times) who are NOT left/ right 
extremists  ???

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