There is kind of an irony for these non-major party candidates. They might feel like they have a particular leverage (in close battlegrounds). On the other hand, voters are less willing to give them the time of the day (in those states).”

A discernible pattern indicates that while minor candidates may have a substantial effect in crucial battlegrounds, they simultaneously encounter a more skeptical audience, due to a prevalent belief among voters that casting a vote for these candidates is ineffectual.