[EM] Approval strategy in close three-way race?

[Rob Lanphier]

Hi folks,

As I alluded to before, I'm still a little shakey when it comes to the
optimal Approval strategy.  So, first, let me paraphrase what I believe
is the right strategy, and then ask about a case that's been bugging me.

My understanding is that current strategy involves classic two-party
politics.  The idea is that you pick your favorite front-runner, and
every candidate you like better than the front-runner.

However, what happens in a tight three-way race?  This is often the case
that gets thrown in the face of IRV advocates as a weakness in IRV, so
it's only fair to ask what happens in Approval.

Let's take a look at the landscape of the U.S. Presidential race.  There
was a time (June, 1992) where it was virtually a three-way tie.
According to Gallup, Ross Perot lead the race for president, favored by
34% of Americans, compared to 32% for Bush and 24% for Clinton.  These
numbers shifted around significantly during that time, such that it was
really hard to tell which of the three was a "front-runner".  Had the
election been held right then and there, picking out just two
front-runners would have been difficult.

So, what's the right strategy in Approval?

Rob