The Republican Party did start as a third party, and it might be useful to look at how they succeeded: http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/08/06/289913/gop-

The Republican Party did start as a third party, and it might be useful to look at how they succeeded: http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/08/06/289913/gop-as-the-exception-that-proves-the-rule/ http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/08/06/289913/gop-as-t... They managed to convince a lot of incumbent politicians to jump ship and join the Republican Party.