Democrats have released a new ad this morning, cautioning their supporters about the potential impact of Green Party candidate Jill Stein’s presence on the ballot in the upcoming election, expressing concerns that this could pose a threat to Kamala Harris.
Mary Beth Cahill, an advisor to the Democratic National Committee, stated that Jill Stein, although unable to win the presidency, will play a crucial role in determining the outcome.
She emphasized that Donald Trump recognizes Stein as a key factor in his quest for the White House, which is evident through his praise of her spoiler candidacy. Furthermore, Cahill pointed out that Trump’s supporters within the MAGA movement are actively supporting and bolstering Stein’s campaign.
“The importance of this election cannot be overstated, and it is crucial that we prevent Jill Stein from jeopardizing its outcome. The DNC is committed to ensuring that voters understand that casting their ballot for anyone other than Kamala Harris is equivalent to supporting Donald Trump.”
Stein’s campaign centers around her strong opposition to the war in Gaza, which she passionately denounces as a genocide against Palestinians.
In Wisconsin, Democrats remain frustrated over the outcome of the 2016 election. Hillary Clinton fell short of winning the popular vote in Wisconsin by a mere 23,000 votes, while Stein garnered 31,000 votes. It is uncertain whether this ultimately cost Clinton the state.
The argument for that scenario assumes that all or most of the Stein voters would have participated in the election even without her on the ballot, and that the majority of their votes would have been cast for Clinton.
Stein is not expected to win the election, as she currently has a polling rate of around 1% in Wisconsin, according to the latest Marquette poll. However, Democrats are concerned that her presence in the race could potentially sway independent voters and ultimately impact the outcome in favor of Trump..
In a state like Wisconsin, where the margin of victory is likely to be extremely narrow, even minor shifts in support can have significant consequences in today’s political climate.
The Democrats made an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the Green Party and other third-party candidates from appearing on the ballot.
During this election cycle, Trump has already acknowledged Stein’s likely role in the battleground states.
“I really admire Jill Stein,” he enthusiastically declared during a rally held in Philadelphia, PA in June. “You know what I love about her? She is not afraid to take on the establishment and challenge the status quo.”
The Trump campaign has expressed concerns regarding the Wisconsin ballot. They made efforts to remove the name of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from the ballot after he withdrew from the race, fearing that he could potentially take away votes from Trump. However, the Wisconsin Supreme Court intervened and blocked this attempt, resulting in Kennedy’s name remaining on the ballot.
You can get in touch with Laura Schulte through email at [email protected] or on X at @SchulteLaura.