More Election Reflections: Limited Options

Continuing the discussion with Sean and Susan about whether “don’t vote for Obama” necessarily translated into “vote for McCain,” I think we also have to look at the practical reality of how our two-party system operated in the 2008 election.  From what I recall of my New York ballot in 2004, there was a “right to life” option that year which could have sent a signal of one’s dissatisfaction with both parties.  This year, at least in New York, the “right to life” party was no where to be found.  Someone please correct me if I’m wrong (and I haven’t done any homework on this topic at all), but I am assuming that this year for strategic reasons the "right to life" party was essentially absorbed into the Republican party?  In any case, it was not an option on my ballot, in any of the races.  I think this practical reality sharpens Susan’s concerns: if one was not inclined to vote for McCain, the only seemingly "pro-life" alternative was to not vote at all.