TL/DR –
Former President Donald Trump addressed the Libertarian Party’s convention, revealing his campaign’s concerns over third-party candidates. His team is closely watching an informal poll to understand what topics attendees want Trump to discuss. Trump’s outreach to Libertarian voters is an attempt to gain their support, who usually secure about 3% of the vote each year, in light of an intensifying third-party campaign by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Trump Addresses Libertarian Party’s Convention Amid Concern Over Third-Party Candidates
Former President Donald Trump is set to address the Libertarian Party’s convention, illustrating his campaign’s intensifying concern over third-party candidates. This unconventional move for a presumptive Republican nominee showcases a strategic approach to the upcoming election.
Trump’s pitch to the Libertarians revolves around shared grievances against President Joe Biden’s four years in office. His team has also been closely monitoring the results of an informal poll that asked convention attendees which topics Trump should address during his speech.
The former president’s outreach to Libertarians follows weeks of attacks aimed at Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose high-profile independent White House bid is being viewed by Trump’s advisers as a potential problem in a closely contested election.
In a speech to the National Rifle Association, Trump warned against wasting votes on “radical left” views and emphasized the importance of securing the support of Libertarian voters. “We have to join with them because they get their 3% every year, no matter who’s running,” Trump expressed.
Libertarian Party’s Historical Relevance
The Libertarian presidential nominee, Gary Johnson, secured over 3% of the popular vote eight years ago, marking a high point in the party’s history. This number was larger than Trump’s margin of victory over Hillary Clinton in closely contested battlegrounds.
Turning the spotlight on Trump’s campaign, the former president’s team has not dismissed the potential impact of Kennedy’s campaign on the race outcome.
Unusual Invitation and Attention for the Libertarian Party
The decision to host Trump and Kennedy has brought significant media attention to the Libertarian Party at a time when it has struggled to maintain its relevance. Convention organizers believe this marks the first time in the modern political era that a presumptive Republican or Democratic nominee will speak at a third-party convention.
With Trump’s acceptance of the invitation, the Libertarian Party Chairwoman, Angela McArdle, could potentially stage a major presidential debate at the convention. This move would be a significant PR boost for the party and could potentially influence the voting behavior of independent-minded voters.
However, the test for Trump is not necessarily to convert die-hard Libertarians. Instead, the goal is to sway independent-minded voters who are considering a third-party candidate out of dissatisfaction with the Democratic and Republican nominees or to push back against the status quo.
Trump and Kennedy’s Engagement with Libertarian Voters
While Trump and Kennedy have been courting potential Libertarian voters, Kennedy’s support in national surveys has reached double digits, with strong indications that he is siphoning support from both Trump and Biden.
Trump’s attacks on Kennedy have also increased as the threat has become more evident. He has taken to social media to label Kennedy a “Democrat plant.”
Trump is also trying to leverage some commonalities between Libertarians and Republicans, such as a desire for a more limited federal government, lower taxes, and less spending, to form a sensible alliance. He recognized that Libertarians may have differing opinions on some issues such as LGBTQ rights and marijuana policy.
In recent weeks, Kennedy has ramped up his attacks on Trump, including on his handling of the pandemic. His campaign has even begun selling shirts on its website that read “Vote Trump/Fauci 2024” alongside the slogan “Give us another shot!,” a direct jab at Trump’s Covid-19 response.
Despite the courting efforts from both Trump and Kennedy, voters’ reactions remain mixed, with some stating they are unlikely to be swayed by Trump’s overtures. However, the former president’s campaign continues to argue that such a reaction is a byproduct of being “on offense and competing for nontraditional votes.”
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