SPRINGFIELD — They’re perhaps not as high profile as Ross Perot was in the 1990s or even Ralph Nader in 2000, but voters will have five options for president in Illinois other than Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.

Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney made several stops in Illinois Tuesday and Wednesday. Dozens of Greens are on ballots across the state running for Congress, as well as state and county offices.

“The ability to get one’s message out is enhanced when you have a multitude of candidates who are carrying the message,” McKinney said during a swing through Springfield.

In addition to McKinney, Nader is running for the nation’s top office again, this time as an independent. Nader’s state coordinator Robert Tracy said his goal is to promote issues, even if winning is practically out of the question.

“The main reason for his candidacy, as I understand it, is to advance those issues,” Tracy said.

Libertarian Bob Barr, a former Republican lawmaker from Georgia, also will be on ballots. As will Constitution Party candidate Charles Baldwin, a minister from Florida.

The fifth candidate is John Joseph Polachek, who’s apparently a Chicago man with no running mate or public presence to speak of.

Among third parties, Greens have the largest presence on Illinois ballots after Green candidate Rich Whitney won more than 10 percent of the vote for governor in 2006.

Touring with McKinney Wednesday, Whitney hinted at a possible 2010 run for governor.

Mike Riopell can be contacted at (217) 789-0865 or mike.riopell@lee.net.

OTHER PARTIES

Five third party presidential candidates will be on Illinois ballots Nov. 4. Here are their names, running mates and Web sites.

Green Party: Cynthia McKinney and running mate Rosa Clemente. votetruth08.com

Libertarian Party: Bob Barr and running mate Wayne Allyn Root. bobbarr2008.com

Constitution Party: Charles O. Baldwin and running mate Darrell L. Castle. baldwin08.com

Independent: Ralph Nader and running mate Matt Gonzalez. votenader.org

New Party: John Joseph Polachek of Chicago, who has no running mate or Web site.