Bipartisan Coalition Joins Opposition to No Labels Effort
A coalition opposing the No Labels effort, which aims to promote bipartisan cooperation and centrism in American politics, is gaining momentum. The coalition already includes Third Way, the progressive group MoveOn.org, the Democratic opposition research firm American Bridge, and the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, formed by Republican consultants. Next week, they will be joined by a bipartisan coalition headed by Richard A. Gephardt, a former Democratic House leader.
To No Labels’ most ardent opponents, the group’s lofty rhetoric and appeals to centrism mask a secret agenda to return Republicans to the White House. They point to generous donations from prominent Republicans, such as Woody Hunt, senior chairman of Hunt Companies, John Catsimatidis, head of Gristedes Foods, and Ted Kellner, a Milwaukee businessman, who have supported candidates like Trump. This suggests that these donors are aware that No Labels’ primary role now is to damage the Democrats.
Polling conducted by an outside firm for Richard A. Gephardt revealed intriguing insights. It indicated that a candidate deemed moderate, independent, and bipartisan could not win the presidency. However, such a candidate could significantly harm President Biden’s chances of re-election. The national survey by the Prime Group, a Democratic-leaning public opinion research and messaging firm, showed that in a head-to-head matchup, Biden would prevail against Trump by a similar popular vote margin as in 2020. However, if a centrist third-party candidate were to enter the race, they could siphon a substantial number of voters from Biden, potentially tipping the scales in favor of Trump.
Further analysis was conducted in seven swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The survey revealed that Trump would win three of those states in a head-to-head matchup with Biden, while Biden would win two. In the remaining two states, Biden and Trump would essentially tie, according to the survey.
Nancy Jacobson, one of the founders of No Labels, reiterated that the effort should be seen as an “insurance policy” for an American electorate dissatisfied with the possibility of a repeat of the Biden-Trump election of 2020. The “common sense” document serves as a catalyst for addressing this dissatisfaction and transforming it into a genuine political movement.
As the opposition to No Labels grows, it remains to be seen how this development will impact the group’s influence and objectives. With the addition of Richard A. Gephardt’s bipartisan coalition, the coalition opposing No Labels becomes even more formidable. The battle between those advocating for a return to bipartisan cooperation and those suspicious of hidden agendas intensifies, while the American electorate watches closely, eager to see the outcomes of these political maneuvers.
Sources:
– No Labels opposition coalition expands: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/27/no-labels-opposition-coalition-expands-00005606
– Survey reveals potential impact of a centrist third-party candidate: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/28/us/politics/biden-trump-third-party-candidate.html
Original Story at www.nytimes.com – 2023-07-15 22:33:58
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