What if neither Republican Donald Trump nor Democrat Hillary Clinton won the2016 presidential election?
The idea isn't completely unrealistic, particularly in a presidential election yearmarked by one bizarre and unpredictable turn after another.
And there is a way it could happen, given the peculiar laws that govern U.S. presidential elections.
At the very least, we have the ingredients required for both Trump and Clinton to be denied the White House.
First, the pair are among the most disliked presidential candidates in history. An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll last month found that close to two-thirds of voters – 60% – have a negative view of Donald Trump, while 55% have a negative view of Hillary Clinton.
What's more, many members of both parties are resisting falling in line behind their nominee…
Lack of Love for Trump and Clinton Opens a Door
A number of Republican leaders have refused to endorse Trump's candidacy. One particularly discontented segment of GOP insiders – the so-called "Never Trump" forces – continue to work up potential schemes for replacing him.
Meanwhile, supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have not gotten past their grievances against Hillary Clinton built up over the grueling primary campaign. Many believe she rigged the nomination in her favor by securing a majority of the Democratic "superdelegates" before the primaries even started.
They also have reservations about Clinton's deep connections to the Washington establishment and worry that she's in the pocket of her big money donors.
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