"Splitting the Vote" implies that an outsider applicant comes in and strips away votes from some hopeful of the real gatherings. It can have a major effect in a nearby race, and a standard hopeful loses (or wins) when the greater part ordinarily would have chosen the other one.
It can be important since it makes a big difference in a close race, and a mainstream candidate loses (or wins) when the majority normally would have elected the other one.
it was two independent clauses. meaning you could break this sentence into two separate sentences if you wanted to. it is two sentences that can stand alone(independent)
