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The Jim Rutt Show

EP 204 Matt Bennett on the Case Against No Labels

Oct 19, 2023
Jim Rutt talks with Matt Bennett about his arguments against the third-party political campaign No Labels. They discuss Matt's steelman of the campaign, being politically homeless, nuclear energy & the American left's unrealistic energy policies, the problem with No Labels' theory about moving candidates in their direction, the credibility of winning the election, two theories of preventing another Trump presidency, the 1992 Ross Perot campaign, candidates for the No Labels ticket, growing disgust with the political establishment, and much more.
01:03:55

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • No Labels' proposal to run a third-party centrist candidate in the presidential election faces challenges in moving major party candidates, winning the election, and their idea of a contingent election is undemocratic and irresponsible.
  • Historically, third-party candidates have struggled to gain traction and win presidential elections due to structural barriers, early voting, and the overwhelming advertising power of major party campaigns.

Deep dives

The Challenges of No Labels' Insurance Policy

No Labels' proposal to run a third-party centrist candidate in the presidential election faces several challenges. First, their theory of moving major party candidates in their direction is flawed, as Biden is already a centrist and there is limited room for him to move further. Second, their claim that the third-party candidate could win the election is highly unlikely, as historical examples and polling data show that third-party candidates rarely come close to winning. Third, their idea of a contingent election, where they could spoil the race and potentially deny either candidate 270 electoral votes, is undemocratic and irresponsible, especially in the context of Trump's presidency and the aftermath of January 6th. Overall, their insurance policy is flawed and does not offer a credible alternative to the major party candidates.

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