No Labels, a bipartisan group aiming to challenge hyper-partisanship in the United States, has decided not to field a third-party candidate in the upcoming presidential election. The group failed to attract a high-profile centrist candidate who could pose a credible challenge to Joe Biden and Donald Trump, further solidifying the general election matchup. The decision comes after months of internal discussions and fundraising efforts by No Labels.
The only prominent outsider still seeking the presidency is anti-vaccine activist Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has collected enough signatures to qualify for the fall ballot in five states. Democrats had feared that a third-party candidate could damage Biden’s chances of winning, and many potential candidates, including Nikki Haley, Joe Manchin, and Larry Hogan, declined to run under the No Labels banner.
Critics of No Labels, like Rahna Epting of MoveOn, are relieved by the decision, believing that it is essential to unite against Trump rather than splitting the vote with a third-party candidate. While some supporters are disappointed by the lack of alternative options, they understand and accept the group’s decision. Ultimately, the 2020 presidential election will come down to a contest between Biden and Trump, with third-party candidates failing to gain traction as in previous elections.
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