A new front emerged in the rising challenges to President Joe Biden’s administration on Tuesday as left-wing environmentalist Jill Stein officially launched her third presidential campaign during an online discussion with two fellow progressive activists.
Stein, 73, aiming to secure the US Green Party’s nomination, is part of a growing trend of mostly leftist figures announcing candidacies to potentially undermine Biden support in the upcoming election against Donald Trump.
In a live Zoom conversation with Chris Smalls and Miko Peled, Stein discussed her campaign focused on workers’ rights, high living costs, and US support for Israel, aiming to highlight areas where Biden is vulnerable among his voter base.
Stein’s entry into the race particularly resonates due to her supposed role in tipping battleground states to Trump during the 2016 presidential election. Her growing field of purported third-party or independent candidates reflects voter discontent with a potential repeat of the 2020 presidential race between Biden and Trump.
With growing concerns about Biden’s age and economic discontent, his path to re-election could become more complicated, particularly if Democratic senator Joe Manchin decides to run as an independent centrist candidate. Additionally, Biden faces a primary challenge from within his own party.
Stein, a Jewish activist, has criticized Biden’s support for Israel and called for a ceasefire to the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, potentially gaining support in battleground states with a significant Arab voter population disenchanted with Biden’s pro-Israel stance.
In her campaign video, Stein, a medical doctor, positioned herself as an alternative to the mainstream parties and expressed her commitment to serving the people. Her 2024 candidacy marks a continuation of her efforts to offer voters a choice beyond the Democratic and Republican parties.
