Cornel West, a renowned academic and a civil-rights activist, is running as a Green Party candidate for president, sparking anxiety among Democrats.
The memory of Jill Stein, the Green Party nominee in 2016, whose votes may have impacted the election in key battleground states, haunts Democrats.
West denies being a spoiler, but his candidacy worries Democrats who fear he could siphon votes away from their nominee, potentially helping the Republicans win. Democrats, including influential figures like David Axelrod and Cedric Richmond, emphasize the importance of unity and caution against third-party candidacies.
“This is going to sneak up on people,” said Axelrod, now a CNN commentator. “I don’t know why alarm bells aren’t going off now, and they should be at a steady drumbeat from now until the election.”
No Labels, a group seeking a unity ticket, is also a concern, as it could split votes. West’s candidacy is significant due to his following among college-age and progressive voters. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsements of Biden are seen as crucial in persuading progressives to support the Democratic nominee. Despite criticisms of Biden, many believe he is the better choice compared to the alternative, which they fear could lead to a return of Donald Trump’s presidency.
West is a Democratic socialist, and while he doesn’t have much chance of winning the election according to some political pundits, he could pull votes from Biden and give an edge to Republicans. Twice-impeached former president Trump is expected to be the Republican Party’s nominee, despite his 37-count federal indictment for charges that include obstruction of justice and unlawful retention of defense information.
During the 2000 presidential election, Democrat Al Gore won the popular vote but lost the election to Republican George. W. Bush and many blame third-party candidate Ralph Nader for the defeat after the Florida…
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