By STEVE PEOPLES (AP National Political Writer)
NEW YORK (AP) — When No Labels’ opponents became the most vocal, Joe Lieberman defended the group.
The former Connecticut senator was a founding chairman of the centrist organization that primarily focused on promoting bipartisanship in national politics. Despite its seemingly harmless mission, No Labels angered many people across politics by attempting to recruit a third-party presidential candidate who some worry might sway the 2024 election in favor of Donald Trump. At nearly every crucial point, Lieberman acted as the group’s main public advocate
. He was also a key figure in No Labels’ efforts to recruit a presidential candidate. In interviews, he repeatedly emphasized that the nation desires an alternative to Trump and President Joe Biden. “This is the moment for a bipartisan unity ticket,” Lieberman said to Bloomberg Television last Thursday. “Now, we’ve just got to find a strong bipartisan ticket to recommend to the No Labels delegates in the next couple of weeks. That’s not easy.”Now, Lieberman has passed away. He
died on Wednesday
due to complications from a fall. He was 82. Lieberman’s death not only signifies an immeasurable loss for No Labels, it introduces a new level of uncertainty into the organization’s 2024 ambitions. Just hours before news of his death was reported this week, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who twice
unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination
, announced his decision not to join No Labels’ presidential ticket. It was the latest in a string of high-profile rejections for the group, which has nonetheless secured a spot on presidential ballots in more than a dozen states. Already, No Labels had pursued and been rejected by potential White House contenders in both parties including Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.On Thursday, a new wave of critics urged No Labels to abandon its 2024 plans.
“At this point I’m not sure what else the No Labels crowd needs to hear. Every serious person who has taken a look at this gambit immediately sees they would just be helping to elect Donald Trump,” Sarah Longwell, who founded Republican Voters Against Trump, wrote on X. “Time for No Labels and its donors to pull the plug.”
No Labels’ leadership declined to address its 2024 plans on Thursday in light of Lieberman’s passing. His funeral was scheduled for Friday.
But new details emerged in the group’s struggle to persuade strong candidates to join its presidential ticket.
Lieberman was deeply involved in discussions with potential candidates. He took part in introductory Zoom calls and maintained regular contact with top prospects, including Christie.
The former New Jersey governor’s team seriously considered a potential No Labels’ bid. His advisers conducted polling, modeling and studied the fundraising challenges, according to a person familiar with Christie’s thinking, granted anonymity to disclose private conversations.
In the end, Christie decided that a No Labels’ ticket was not workable, even though the organization insisted otherwise.
“I think this is a discussion we should have with the American people, but if there's no way to win and if my candidacy would help Donald Trump become president again, then it's not the way forward,” Christie said Wednesday in a statement.
Another well-known Republican Trump critic, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, was also in regular contact with No Labels in recent months. Sununu, who briefly considered a Republican White House bid, has announced he will not seek reelection this fall.
Noticing an opportunity, No Labels repeatedly contacted Sununu and showed that he was one of their top choices based on focus group data, according to a Sununu adviser who spoke on the condition of anonymity to disclose private discussions.
Sununu told No Labels advisers multiple times that he wasn’t interested, the adviser said. No Labels reached out again in early March to gauge Sununu’s interest, and the New Hampshire governor again said no.
Nevertheless, No Labels seems to be moving forward.
The group announced on Wednesday, just before news of Lieberman’s death emerged, that it had secured ballot access in Wyoming. That makes 19 states, including swing states Arizona and Nevada, in which No Labels says it has officially qualified for the presidential ballot.
Though that's more than what third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has confirmed so far, it's still not enough states for a candidate to have a real chance to win the presidency.
Yet it was Lieberman himself who wrote a message earlier in the month outlining a way forward.
He said that he was part of a No Labels committee called, “Country Over Party,” which was in charge of identifying candidates for the unity ticket.
“If we find two candidates that meet our high threshold, we will recommend that ticket to No Labels’ delegates for a nomination vote at a National Nominating Convention that will be held later this spring,” Lieberman said just two weeks ago. “If No Labels is unable to find candidates who meet this high threshold, then we simply will not offer our ballot line to anyone.”
“We remain undeterred and confident in our mission,” Lieberman continued, “because we know we have America’s vast commonsense majority behind us.”
Associated Press writers Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix and Jill Colvin in New York contributed.
Joe Lieberman served as No Labels’ main advocate when the critics were at their loudest.
Associated Press writers Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix and Jill Colvin in New York contributed.
