President Biden can breathe a sigh of relief in his quest for a second term as No Labels has made a significant announcement. The organization revealed on Thursday that it will not be putting forth a candidate for the upcoming election.
During a recent talk show appearance, Hillary Clinton made a comment that might have inadvertently caused a new problem for Joe Biden. She told disaffected voters to “get over yourself,” which could potentially alienate those who are already feeling frustrated or disillusioned.
Many Democrats were angered by No Labels, claiming that the group’s potential challenge could have benefited former President Trump and potentially paved the way for his return to the White House.
In the end, despite its claims of being a centrist group, it failed to attract any high-profile politicians to run under its banner. Prominent figures such as Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R), and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) all made it clear that they would not be associated with the group.
In a statement released on Thursday, No Labels expressed the belief that the American public is in dire need of a leader who can unify the nation. However, the organization also acknowledged that it had previously stated its intention to only offer its ballot line to a candidate who has a realistic chance of winning the presidency.
The group came to the conclusion that since no suitable candidates emerged, it was best for them to stand down.
The No Labels threat vanishing is a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak scenario for Biden.
According to a recent poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal, Trump is currently ahead of the incumbent president in six out of the seven battleground states that are crucial in determining the outcome of the election.
There is also growing dissatisfaction with Biden’s backing of Israel during its military operation in Gaza, which has resulted in the loss of approximately 33,000 lives, according to the Gazan Health Ministry.
In the meantime, No Labels’ decision does not diminish the challenge that Biden faces from other candidates.
According to The Hill and Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., stands out as the leading alternative choice, garnering approximately 8 percent support on a national scale.
Kennedy’s unconventional platform has garnered support from both disenchanted Republicans and Democrats. However, most polls indicate that his entry into the race marginally strengthens Trump’s advantage over Biden.
Jill Stein, a representative of the Green Party, and Cornel West, a renowned academic and activist, are also vying for the presidency from a more progressive standpoint than Biden. However, West’s eligibility to appear on the ballot in several states remains uncertain. On the contrary, there are no significant contenders running on the right side of the political spectrum against Trump.
Democrats have expressed concerns regarding the potential impact of these candidacies, particularly considering the challenges that Biden is already confronted with.
Hillary Clinton’s intervention plays a crucial role in this scenario.
During her appearance on NBC’s “Tonight Show” with host Jimmy Fallon on Monday, Hillary Clinton was posed with a question regarding voters who may feel upset about the upcoming election being between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
Hillary Clinton had a straightforward response to the notion of a third-party candidate potentially affecting the 2020 election: “Get over yourself. Those are the two choices.”
Most Democrats do recognize a significant distinction between Biden and Trump. However, they have reservations about whether dissatisfied voters, who may already feel disconnected or condescended to, will be open to the idea of simply “getting over” themselves.
According to Democratic strategist Mark Longabaugh, Clinton’s remark is a clear indication of her tendency to be “tonally off-sync.”
According to Longabaugh, he is not convinced that this is the most effective approach to win back disaffected Democrats and younger voters for Joe Biden.
“Young people crave inspiration, not lectures,” he emphasized. “To regain their attention, we mustn’t scold them, but rather discuss Biden’s remarkable accomplishments in addressing climate change and his efforts to safeguard women’s reproductive rights.”
Grant Reeher, a professor of political science at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, also shares the same opinion as some independent experts.
According to Reeher, the danger lies in the way Clinton’s comment merged with the already negative perception of establishment Democrats.
According to Reeher, the Democratic Party, and especially Hillary Clinton, have a reputation for talking down to voters. This reputation is not helpful, as it aligns with Clinton’s infamous “basket of deplorables” comment. The party needs to work on changing this perception if they want to connect with voters.
During the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton made a statement at a fundraising event where she referred to “half of Trump’s supporters” as part of the “basket of deplorables.” However, this attack ended up having the opposite effect as it was embraced by Trump’s most passionate followers and became a badge of honor for them.
There are Democrats who support Clinton’s recent statement of “get over yourself.”
According to Basil Smikle Jr., a Democratic strategist based in New York, the use of such phrasing can be seen as “tough talk for a tough time.”
According to Smikle, the notion of “the lesser of two evils” does not inspire voters. He believes that Clinton’s language can help voters recognize that it is not about personal preference, but rather a choice between two distinct agendas for the country.
Come November, the White House will be hopeful that voters perceive it in this manner.
However, there is no guarantee of that happening.
The Memo, written by Niall Stanage, is a column that provides insightful reports on various topics.
