No Labels party on Thursday said it has ended its attempt to back a “unity” candidate for the presidency. For months, the group has courted centrists like Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, and others to make a presidential bid. But it could not convince candidate that it had enough of a base of voters and donors to win.
“Americans remain more open to an independent presidential run, and hungrier for unifying national leadership, than ever before. But No Labels has always said we would only offer our ballot line to a ticket if we could identify candidates with a credible path to winning the White House. No such candidates emerged, so the responsible course of action is for us to stand down,” the group said in a press release. The group had talked to Republicans Chris Christie and Nikki Haley, but both declined.
The party was seen as a threat to Joe Biden’s bid for reelection. It has gained ballot access in at least 16 states, including Alaska.
Asked who he will vote for now, No Labels National Director and former Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham told Fox News’ Neil Cavuto he will vote for Biden.
Last week, the founding chairman of No Labels, former Sen. Joe Lieberman, died after suffering from a fall while in New York City.
