Independent candidates for office typical run knowing they will lose, but wish to have the national stage for pushing issues important for them, and to grill other candidates on these issues during debates. Sally Langston believes she has real potential to win, yet splitting the conservative ticket with Grant ensures both will lose. If she is certain she can win more conservative votes than Grant, her only course would be to challenge him in the primaries for the Republican nomination. Doing so would also help her reach voters, because it would ensure debates between her and Grant.
Talk on the show about Sally Langston running for President has revolved around her potential to beat Grant, or Grant's need for her as a running-mate to bolster his ticket. Yet even if she did manage to pull more conservative voters than Grant, the real threat here is something no one mentions--that splitting the conservative vote will certainly hand the election to the Democratic candidate. Olivia Pope, at least, should recognize this, and make it a talking point.