Recent polling from Monmouth University confirms what we have long known: outside the cheering sections for Team Red and Team Blue, there's just not a lot of enthusiasm for Biden-Trump rematch.
And that is particularly the case for those voters who already had low opinions of Biden and Trump. According to Monmouth, this group is as sour as can be on the November rematch:
There are not a lot of demographic differences that distinguish these so-called “double haters,” but they do tend to be younger. Specifically, 27% of voters under 35 years old fall into the double hater group, compared with just 16% of those 35 to 54 years old and 10% of those age 55 and older. Among the double hater voters, 78% say they are not at all enthusiastic about having Biden and Trump at the top of the two major party tickets again. Looking ahead to November, 26% say they are definite or probable Biden voters and 19% are definite or probable Trump supporters. The majority (55%), though, say they are unlikely to vote for either candidate.
Oh, so they might find their way to an independent or third party candidate? Well..
“Support for Kennedy is not particularly strong even among voters who dislike both Biden and Trump. If he can't score a decisive win with these voters, it's unclear what role he can play in this election other than as a spoiler,” said Murray. He added, “The poll results suggest that the Kennedy effect is minimal. If the current situation holds, he would play a spoiler role only in a very close contest. Of course, everything is lining up for this election to be just that.”
At least that's the way things look right now. As for the idea of any independent or third party candidate playing “spoiler”…that's a clear sign of two-party tunnel vision.
It's critical to remember that parties, candidates, issues, and organizations need to earn a voter's support. Candidates, campaigns, and issues that fail to do so have only spoiled their own chances of winning.
And voters must remember that their vote belongs to them – first, and always. They need to treat it accordingly – doing their homework on the candidates, paying close attention to the issues at play, and so on.
Only after they have weighed the evidence and the appeals should voters decide which – if any – candidate to support. It is absolutely true that our current electoral system is geared to elect one of the major party candidates to high office – and those major parties have written the election rules and regulations to make such an outcome a given.
But that does not mean voters are compelled to vote for Team Red or Team Blue.
Make them work for it. And if you're in the “double hater” camp…make them work overtime to earn your support. If they can't or won't…then look elsewhere for the candidate who will.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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