By planning a campaign-style event in New Hampshire on Monday with Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, No Labels is taking another innovative, significant step toward a potential third-party presidential run in 2024.
The action is being taken as a Washington-based advocacy group seeks to assemble a Democrat and a Republican to run as a bipartisan presidential ticket in 2024. If successful, this move could shake up the race, which is currently leaning toward a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
Nancy Jacobson, the founder and CEO of No Labels, told NBC News that the organization is close to reaching its $70 million fundraising target. This money would support No Labels’ attempts to get ballot access for its prospective presidential ticket in all 50 states. No Labels will formally nominate its presidential ticket during a convention that will take place in Dallas in April of next year.
Manchin’s response on when he would make a decision was, “It’ll be next year,” which means rumors about it (and his West Virginia Senate seat) will continue well into 2024.
“Let’s observe everyone’s movements. Manchin, an ardent critic of partisanship in Washington, said, “Let’s see what happens. “Perhaps they’ll get their act together and begin carrying out the duties for which they were chosen.”
Many national Democrats worry that Manchin may steal votes from Biden if he or another major Democrat runs on a third-party ticket in 2016. Manchin has frequently defied his party and dialed back portions of his Democratic colleagues’ legislative agenda in Congress.
The small percentage of voters who choose to support a third-party candidate in 2020 was one of the most notable disparities between Biden’s victory and Hillary Clinton’s defeat to Trump four years prior. By 2020, only 2% of votes were cast for third parties, down from 6% in 2016.
Additionally, the majority of 2016 third-party voters decided to support Biden four years later, contributing to the defeat of Trump’s re-election, according to the NBC News exit poll. Democrats are now concerned that an increase in third-party support in 2024 will make it easier for Trump to win, just like it did in 2016, when he needed 47% to 48% of the vote to win several crucial swing states.
Manchin allayed Democratic worries that Trump might get support from a No Labels-inspired presidential bid.
Nobody at No Labels, according to Manchin, “would ever be a spoiler.” There is no attempt to favor one side over another by ruining the game here. We hope that both sides reach a reasonable middle ground.
“When will people finally have enough?” Regarding partisan politics, Manchin said. “We constantly hear that. “I’ve had enough. Why can’t you collaborate? Who are we? What about our wonderful country?
Manchin wasn’t the only political figure defying convention on the campaign road on Monday; Republican Jon Huntsman, a former Utah governor and U.S. ambassador to China, joined Manchin in New Hampshire. Prior to their journey, No Labels announced that the two will be the featured speakers at its “Common Sense Townhall” on Monday night at Saint Anselm College, a frequent stop for presidential hopefuls. The two previously addressed a group of people who attended a Manchester restaurant on a secret invitation.
Although two sources familiar with the group’s deliberations told NBC News that the ticket could include people who have never held elected office, No Labels’ leaders, including former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Democrat-turned-independent, and former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, continue to be mum about potential candidates.
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