A Year Like No Other

Many events in history have united Americans, such as our founding in 1776, the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to name a few. 2024 is shaping up to be another such year. While America today is divided in many ways, we are united in many ways, too.

For example: 60% to 70% of Americans do not want to see a Biden-Trump rematch in the presidential election, according to an NBC News poll. 71% of Americans are dissatisfied with how democracy is working, according to a Gallup poll. 65% told the Pew Research Cen ter they are exhausted when thinking about politics. 63% have little or no confidence in the future of the U.S. political system, according to another Pew report. This is not the kind of unity that we need to have. We need a unity that offers hope.

The good news is that we have a solution: an independent, unity presidential ticket that joins a moderate Republican with a moderate Democrat. This is the vision of No Labels, a political organization that has been successfully fighting for bipartisan solutions since 2010. Critics of No Labels say an independent ticket will simply take votes away from President Joe Biden, causing the election of former President Donald Trump.

The truth is that Biden is already losing to Trump, and Biden is no longer capable of mounting a vigorous come-from-behind campaign to change that result. The only way to ensure Trump will not be elected is a No Labels unity ticket. Such a ticket will absolutely take votes away from Biden, but it will also take votes away from Trump. It will capture the majority of independent voters, who now make up about 40% of the electorate, according to a Gallup poll. Critics say an independent candidate can never win a presidential election. While an independent has never won before, we are seeing history in the making.

According to a Harris poll commissioned by No Labels, 59% of American voters say they would seriously consider voting for an attractive independent candidate. Critics note that Ross Perot was the most successful independent candidate, and he only got 19% of the vote in 1992. While that is true, Perot was polling stronger in July 1992, before he dropped out of the race for 10 weeks. He reentered in October and still got 19% while running against two candidates that people actually liked.

National pollster Frank Luntz recently said an independent ticket could start out with around 20% support, and he sees no ceiling for public support. Imagine what a unity ticket can do with that kind of a head start, with a platform of commonsense policies a majority of Americans support.

Imagine a unity ticket running against two candidates who people do not want to see in the race. A unity president will provide cover for all of the good politicians in Washington who want to do the right thing, but who get vilified if they cast a bipartisan vote. The angry politics will be replaced by respectful dialogue and bip

artisan solutions. The teetering faith in our political institutions will be replaced by overwhelming pride once again with how great this country can be. America’s silent majority is ready to raise its voice. 2024 will indeed be a year like no other.