Maybe I am over-analyzing this, and despite my reservations about extrapolating from one or two bits of data here goes nothing....
Given the limits on election financing, wealthy contributors like Ben Stein give money to their favorite guy, and some splinter candidate on the other side. With an abundance of potential presidential candidates, and the surplus money on both sides, many relatively well-financed candidates enter every election race in the future. The vote, now split 5, 6, or 12 different ways results in no electoral college majority and the election of a President by the congress creating a weakened president and a de facto parliamentary system.
Should I curse Ben Stein or cheer him?