Title: President Biden’s Re-Election Campaign Nervous About Third-Party Threat in 2024 Election
President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign is grappling with concerns over the potential impact of minor-party spoiler candidates in the upcoming 2024 election. According to a recent national poll that included third-party options, former President Donald Trump leads Biden 39% to 36%.
The Biden camp is particularly wary of the influence of third-party candidates such as Cornel West and potential nominees from the Green and Libertarian parties. To address this growing concern, Biden recently met with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who faced similar challenges in the 2016 election, to discuss strategies for countering the third-party threat.
The impact of third-party candidates on previous elections cannot be underestimated, with their votes often surpassing the margin of victory. This prospect troubles Biden and his team, especially considering the No Labels group’s active efforts to attract moderate voters. The organization has announced plans to pour at least $70 million into its eventual candidate, further deepening concerns within the Biden camp.
Another worry for Biden’s team is his perceived vulnerability among younger voters, who have displayed less interest in the 2024 race compared to previous cycles. In response, Vice President Kamala Harris has taken on the role of the administration’s chief outreach officer for younger voters.
Harris recently unveiled the new White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, aligning with the support for stricter gun laws among younger Americans. However, her lower favorability ratings than Biden raise questions about the effectiveness of her role as a messenger for his re-election campaign.
While the minor-party share of the vote dropped significantly in swing states during the 2020 election, benefiting Biden, the No Labels push to gain ballot access poses a fresh challenge for his re-election bid. The group intends to spend a significant amount of money on its candidate, adding to the worries of the Biden campaign.
Attempting to manage their concerns about the third-party threat without causing panic among Democrats, Biden and his allies find themselves in a delicate balancing act. Nonetheless, reports indicate that Biden himself is genuinely worried about the potential impact of minor-party spoiler candidates in the 2024 election.
As the election draws nearer, it remains to be seen how the Biden camp will address these concerns and navigate the political landscape while striving for re-election.
