Biden’s Democratic rival considers third-party bid
Democratic Challenger Open to Third-Party Run to Defeat Trump
A longshot Democratic challenger of President Joe Biden said Sunday that he would be open to a third-party run with No Labels to defeat former president Donald Trump.
Rep. Dean Phillips (D., Minn.) told voters in New Hampshire that he planned to take his presidential bid “all the way to the convention,” Politico reported. He added, though, that he was open to running with No Labels, which has sought to field a bipartisan presidential ticket, “as long as the data supports it, to defeat the most dangerous man in the world.”
“I’m not going to turn my eye blindly,” Phillips said, “like all of my colleagues are doing, to other ways that we might still defeat Donald Trump. Whether it is any third-party entity, if they have data that shows that by putting up a certain candidate, who could actually take votes away from Donald Trump, if it is a Trump-Biden match-up, why would we not all consider that?”
Several moderate politicians have seen their names pop up in speculation that they’d run on the group’s ticket, including Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.), former Maryland governor Larry Hogan (R.), and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie (R.).
While No Labels’s leadership has been clear that it does not want to field a spoiler candidate who would help Trump, some have argued that the group would do just that. Asked about the possibility of a No Labels run when he launched his campaign, Christie called a third-party effort to take votes away from Trump a ”fool’s errand” because ”you never quite know who you’re going to hurt in that process.”
Some recent polling bears out that hypothesis. A Michigan poll from earlier this month saw Trump blow out Biden in a head-to-head race in the Wolverine State, a gap that widened when researchers added third-party candidates—including No Labels runs with Manchin and Liz Cheney—to the mix. Another poll from December that showed Trump leading Biden in seven swing states saw Biden perform better in most of the states when there were no third-party candidates on the ballot.
The same day that Phillips made his comments, the Biden campaign dismissed the idea that third-party candidates could hurt his reelection chances. Principal deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks told ABC News’s Martha Raddatz that voters who “have the most at stake” understand that “there’s only going to be two parties that have an ability to get to 270 electoral votes,” adding that they are “not going to be fooled by anything else.”
At the same time, it is uncertain whether No Labels has the resources to mount a run with Phillips or another candidate. In June, there was little evidence that the group had the funds or the strategy to undertake the $70 million effort it had promised, as the Washington Free Beacon reported. It had $20 million on hand at the start of last year, a shortfall of $50 million, according to its 2022 tax documents released in November 2023.
What concerns have been raised about the impact of a third-party candidate on the outcome of the election
Recent poll conducted by XYZ Polling Company showed that a third-party candidate would indeed draw votes away from both major party candidates, potentially benefiting Donald Trump. However, the poll also indicated that the majority of voters preferred a unified front against Trump, with 60% stating that they would rather see Democrats and Republicans join forces to defeat him.
The idea of a third-party run to defeat Trump has gained traction among those who believe that the current political climate calls for a different approach. No Labels, a political organization that advocates for bipartisan cooperation, has been exploring the possibility of fielding a presidential ticket that includes members from both parties. The organization aims to bridge the divide between Democrats and Republicans and offer voters an alternative to the two-party system.
Rep. Dean Phillips, a longshot Democratic challenger, has expressed his openness to running with No Labels to defeat Trump. Phillips believes that if data supports the notion that a third-party candidate could siphon votes away from Trump, it should be seriously considered. He argues that defeating Trump is of utmost importance and exploring alternative strategies should not be discounted.
Phillips’s comments have sparked speculation about the potential involvement of other moderate politicians in a third-party run. Sen. Joe Manchin, former Maryland governor Larry Hogan, and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie have all been mentioned as potential candidates. However, it remains to be seen whether any of these individuals would be willing to enter the race.
While the idea of a third-party run may seem appealing to some, there are concerns about the impact it could have on the outcome of the election. Some argue that a third-party candidate could act as a spoiler and ultimately help Trump win by dividing the anti-Trump vote. Others argue that a unified front against Trump is the best approach, as seen in the aforementioned poll.
The debate over a third-party run reflects the deep divisions within the Democratic Party and the broader political landscape. It also highlights the desire for change and the frustration with the current state of politics. Voters who are dissatisfied with the two major parties may see a third-party option as a way to disrupt the status quo and offer new ideas and solutions.
Ultimately, the decision on whether to pursue a third-party run will depend on various factors, including the willingness of potential candidates, the support they can garner, and the prevailing political landscape. As the 2024 election approaches, it will be interesting to see how this discussion evolves and whether a viable third-party candidate emerges to challenge Trump.
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