“ ‘How can you spoil a system that’s already broken?’ Schultz said as he ruled out joining the Democrats but also hinted that he would drop out of the race if it meant siphoning Democratic votes.”

That wasn’t the best answer he could have given, IMHO. He should have challenged the premise that Independent candidates act as spoilers. Democrats and Republicans alike are not entitled to anyone’s vote, but that’s not the mainstream sentiment on either side of the aisle. That’s why they don’t like third-party candidates; they believe that only their respective parties are entitled to the powers of political office, and that they shouldn’t have to deal with any extra competition. Of course, that sense of entitlement is antithetical to the very idea of democracy, an institution which owes its existence to the ongoing competition between different ideas, beliefs, and perspectives. Schultz would do well to emphasize that point if he does decide to run.