Democrats Invest $500000 to Discredit Third-Party Candidates Ahead of Election Day

The Democratic National Committee is investing $500,000 in a campaign to persuade voters in key battleground states to reject third-party candidates Jill Stein and Cornel West, warning that their support could help Donald Trump. The campaign includes digital ads targeting younger voters, featuring clips of Trump endorsing both candidates. Haunted by past election losses attributed to third-party candidates, Democrats aim to mitigate their impact as Election Day approaches.

CONTENTS:

• Democrats counter third-party candidates strategically.
• Democrats actively counter third-party candidates.
• Democrats launch campaign against third-parties.

Democrats counter third-party candidates strategically

Democrats Invest $500000 to Discredit Third-Party Candidates In 2016, Green Party candidate Jill Stein received over 132,000 votes in key swing states—Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania—contributing to Donald Trump’s narrow victories there by about 77,000 votes. To avoid a repeat scenario in 2024, the Democratic Party has launched a dedicated war room aimed at monitoring and discrediting third-party candidates. This effort employs more than 30 staff members and operates on a budget in the low seven figures.

Lis Smith, a seasoned Democratic strategist, stated that they are treating third-party candidates with the same intensity as major party candidates. The focus this election cycle includes candidates like Stein, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Chase Oliver from the Libertarian Party, and independent Cornel West. Polls indicate that these third-party candidates could impact the close race in swing states, even if they only register low single-digit support.

While Kennedy showed promise earlier in the campaign, his endorsement of Trump after withdrawing has shifted the Democrats’ focus back to Stein, who is again running as a Green Party candidate. Stein’s campaign aims to attract young and Arab-American voters dissatisfied with the Biden Administration’s policies, particularly regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Democrats Invest $500000 to Discredit Third-Party Candidates The Democratic Party has attempted to undermine Stein’s campaign by branding her as a “useful idiot for Russia” and linking her to Trump. They have run advertisements portraying her as a Trump supporter and have placed billboards in crucial states warning voters against her.

The Democrats previously neutralized Kennedy’s potential impact by defining him as a fringe candidate, which diminished his appeal among Democratic voters. In contrast, they do not view West as a significant threat and prefer not to amplify his campaign through direct attacks.

If the Democrats succeed in minimizing the influence of third-party candidates, the war room could become a permanent fixture in future presidential campaigns, as Smith notes this is a first in American politics.

Democrats actively counter third-party candidates

Democrats Invest $500000 to Discredit Third-Party Candidates As Election Day approaches, third-party presidential candidates pose an unpredictable element in critical swing states where even a small percentage of votes could sway the outcome. The Democratic Party, still reeling from the impact of third-party candidates on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, has proactively sought to diminish the influence of groups like No Labels and candidates such as Jill Stein, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Cornel West.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has invested millions to portray these candidates as potential spoilers or deceptive allies of Republican interests. Various groups, including both centrist and progressive organizations, have joined forces to pave the way for a direct matchup between President Joe Biden and former President Trump, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris.

Democratic operatives have expressed satisfaction with their efforts. Notably, No Labels, which had considered a centrist ticket, ultimately dissolved. Kennedy withdrew from the race, aligning himself more with Trump, and both Stein and West are polling low. However, Democrats remain vigilant, having learned from past elections where third-party candidates helped Republicans gain an advantage.

Lis Smith, a communications advisor to the DNC, emphasized that Democrats are not taking anything for granted. She noted the significant strides made against third-party candidates early in the cycle, resulting in No Labels and RFK Jr. becoming non-factors.

Democrats Invest $500000 to Discredit Third-Party Candidates The DNC established a dedicated team to counteract third-party messaging, and progressive groups like MoveOn collaborated with centrist organizations to support Biden and Harris. Efforts included lobbying against a No Labels unity ticket, swiftly highlighting controversial statements from candidates, and running advertisements linking them to Republican operatives. Democrats even pursued legal action to limit ballot access for certain candidates.

While Stein remains on the ballot in several swing states, her support has declined from earlier expectations. Meanwhile, West is not considered a serious threat. Despite these efforts, some voters are still likely to support third-party candidates, which could impact close races.

Polls indicate that third-party candidates could still draw a few percentage points in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania—states that could determine the election outcome. Concerns linger that discontent with Biden’s handling of the Gaza conflict may drive some voters, particularly in Michigan’s Arab community, to support Stein.

As the election cycle continues, with its share of controversies and challenges, the role of third-party candidates remains uncertain. Pollster Robert Blizzard noted that such candidates can offer alternatives to voters frustrated with both Harris and Trump. Ultimately, Democrats are wary of the potential impact of third-party candidates but feel they have done everything possible to mitigate that risk.

Democrats launch campaign against third-parties

Democrats Invest $500000 to Discredit Third-Party Candidates Democrats are investing approximately $500,000 in a last-minute campaign aimed at persuading voters in key battleground states to reject third-party candidates Jill Stein and Cornel West, warning that supporting them could aid Republican Donald Trump. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced that digital ads will be launched on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, specifically targeting younger voters and college campuses. These ads feature a clip of Trump from a June rally in Philadelphia, where he expressed support for both candidates.

Haunted by narrow losses in the 2000 and 2016 elections, which they attribute partly to Green Party candidates, Democrats have intensified their efforts this year to deter left-leaning voters from supporting third-party options. They have actively countered the No Labels initiative and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent campaign before focusing on Stein and West.

Stein, the Green Party nominee in 2016, garnered 132,000 votes in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, contributing to Hillary Clinton’s loss by a combined margin of 77,000 votes in those states. This year, she has expanded her platform by vocally criticizing Israel and its military actions in Gaza and Lebanon. Her recent appearance at a coffee shop in suburban Phoenix highlighted her support for Palestinians and critiques of Israeli policies.

Democrats Invest $500000 to Discredit Third-Party Candidates During her speech, Stein encouraged her supporters to resist the pressure to choose the “lesser evil” between Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris, labeling both as “genocidal candidates” due to their backing of Israel. She asserted that a true democracy requires voters to advocate for their desires, stating that there is “nothing to gain” from supporting either candidate and much to lose. Stein characterized the Democrats’ campaign against her as a threat to free speech.

Her campaign manager, Jason Call, was more explicit in his sentiments, declaring, “We want them to lose,” referring to the Democratic ticket. While he acknowledged that “nobody wants Trump to win,” he insisted that electing another Democrat would bring consequences that could be “worse than Trump.”