In a bid to sway voters in battleground states, Democrats have allocated approximately $500,000 for a final effort to dissuade support for third-party candidates Jill Stein and Cornel West. The Democratic National Committee revealed plans for digital ads on Instagram and YouTube, specifically targeting younger voters and college campuses. These ads feature footage of Republican candidate Donald Trump praising Stein and West at a rally in Philadelphia, insinuating that a vote for them would benefit Trump.
Reflecting on past elections, Democrats attribute narrow losses in 2000 and 2016 partially to backing for Green Party nominees. This year, they are intensifying efforts to discourage left-leaning voters from opting for third-party candidates, shifting focus from other movements to Stein and West.
Stein, the Green Party nominee in 2016, garnered 132,000 votes in key states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, where Democrat Hillary Clinton suffered defeats by a combined 77,000 votes. Stein's current campaign has expanded beyond environmental issues to include strong criticisms of Israel and its military actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
During a recent appearance in Phoenix, Stein emphasized the importance of voting for what one believes in, rather than succumbing to pressure to choose the 'lesser evil' between Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris. She labeled both as 'genocidal candidates' due to their support for Israel, urging supporters not to compromise their values.
Stein's campaign manager echoed these sentiments, asserting that the Democratic ticket deserves to lose and arguing that the consequences of electing another Democrat to the White House could be more detrimental than another term under Trump.
