Although Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has attracted some moderate support from voters in his independent presidential bid, there has been consistent chatter among Americans dissatisfied with the likely general election lineup in favor of another third-party campaign.
Specifically, the No Labels coalition, which seeks to put forward a ticket featuring a Republican and Democrat, planned a meeting of delegates this week to discuss the possibility of moving forward with the plan.
“Two-thirds of voters don’t want a rematch of the 2020 election,” chief strategist Ryan Clancy declared last year. “I mean, they have different reasons for not wanting [President Joe] Biden or [former President Donald] Trump to run, but most Americans badly want better choices.”
Of course the problem for No Labels is that, so far, all of the public figures discussed as possible candidates have rejected the notion.
U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), who left the Democratic Party to become an independent more than a year ago, confirmed this week that she would not be running for another term in Congress. That announcement fueled speculation that she might team up with No Labels, though a subsequent statement from the group threw cold water on such a campaign.
.@SenatorSinema has been a courageous voice for commonsense and civility at a moment when America desperately needs both. She has made clear that her time in electoral politics is over, and we thank her for her longstanding friendship to No Labels.
— No Labels (@NoLabelsOrg) March 7, 2024
In response to a reporter’s question about any possible White House ambitions, Sinema bluntly stated: “I’m not running for president.”
Hers was just the latest name discussed as a possible No Labels candidate following similar decisions not to join the group’s ticket by elected officials including Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV).
The West Virginia Democrat is also leaving the Senate after this term and has been closely aligned with No Labels for some time.
Last month, however, he ruled out a third-party campaign.
“I will not be involved in a presidential run,” he declared at the time. “I will be involved in making sure that we secure a president who has the knowledge and has the passion and has the ability to bring this country together. And right now, we’re challenged. We’ve got to see if we can get people in that direction.”
Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who exited the GOP presidential primary race earlier this week, has also rejected calls for her to re-enter the fray as a third-party candidate.
