September, Friday 20, 2024

Introducing the Underdogs: Meet the Unlikely Contenders Shaping the Outcome of the 2024 Election


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There are currently sixteen candidates running for president in the United States in 2024, not all of whom are affiliated with the Democratic or Republican parties. Three candidates are running as independents or with a third party, and there is a possibility that a fourth candidate may join them soon. While these candidates are not considered serious contenders for the presidency, they could still pose a threat to President Joe Biden's support base, as well as the potential Republican nominee. Opinion polls indicate that former President Donald Trump is currently on track to become the Republican nominee. Among the independent and third-party candidates, there is John F. Kennedy Jr., a 69-year-old controversial anti-vaccine activist and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy initially entered the race as a Democrat but later declared himself an independent, criticizing the two-party system. Despite his unlikely chances of success, Kennedy's populist economic message has attracted some voters, with polls suggesting he could receive up to 22% of the vote in a three-way match-up with Biden and Trump. Another candidate is Cornel West, a well-known progressive activist and academic who launched his presidential bid as a candidate for the People's Party. However, he later announced that he would run as an independent and his campaign has focused on a socialist platform that includes public healthcare and reducing the defense budget. While most polls show West having support in the single digits, there is some evidence that his candidacy has siphoned off a small percentage of voters from Biden. Jill Stein, a 73-year-old activist and physician, is also running for office and seeking the Green Party's nomination. She previously ran as the party's candidate in 2012 and 2016. In her candidacy announcement, Stein criticized both political parties and called for an "economic bill of rights" that includes universal access to healthcare and education. Although it is unclear how much support she could take away from Biden, she was seen as a spoiler in the 2016 election, with some Democrats blaming her for taking votes away from Hillary Clinton. Additionally, there is speculation about the "No Labels" movement potentially nominating a candidate in the 2024 election. The movement aims to support centrism in American politics and has hosted events with politicians like West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin. Some Democrats are wary of any No Labels candidate, with President Biden suggesting they would "help the other guy" and Nancy Pelosi accusing the group of being a threat to US democracy. Overall, while these independent and third-party candidates are not expected to win the presidency, they could still impact the election by drawing support away from the major party candidates.