.png)
5 months ago
32
The centrist group No Labels announced it will not put up a third-party candidate to run in the 2024 election in an announcement that is sure to be received as good news for Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
'No Labels has always said we would only offer our ballot line to a ticket if we could identify candidates with a credible path to winning the White House," said No Labels CEO and co-founder Nancy Jacobson in a statement.
'No such candidates emerged, so the responsible course of action is for us to stand down,' she said.
Jacobson said the group will continue to engage over the next year during what is 'likely to be the most divisive presidential election in our lifetimes.'
The announcement comes after months of speculation on whether the group would be able to find a candidate to take on Biden and Trump and raised millions of dollars for a potential ticket.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the No Labels decision.
The centrist group No Labels announced it would not put up a 2024 presidential candidate
Early last month, the group's 800 delegates unanimously approved a plan for the 2024 'unity ticket' to run in November.
But the clock was quickly ticking down on the group picking a nominee as deadlines to get on the general election ballot in multiple states rapidly approached.
Late last month, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie became the latest one time presidential hopeful to say he would not run as a No Labels candidate.
'While I believe this is a conversation that needs to be had with the American people, I also believe that if there is not a pathway to win and if my candidacy in any way, shape or form would help Donald Trump become president again, then it is not the way forward,' Christie said at the time in a statement.
Others to turn down the offer or remove themselves from consideration to be the group's third-party candidate included former Republican Governor Nikki Haley, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney and former Republican Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, who opted for a Senate bid.
Before dropping out of the GOP presidential race, Haley rejected running as a No Labels candidate because she did not want a Democrat on her ticket.
Another common concern among some others who rejected running as a third party candidate was the worry it would help ex-President Donald Trump be reelected.
A third-party bid has largely been viewed as a move that would hurt President Biden and help Trump.
A series of recent polls show including Independent candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. hurts Biden more than Trump.
On March 27, the group also was dealt another significant blow when it lost one of its co-founders. Former Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman died at age of 82 from complications from a fall.
English (US)