Monday on CNN’s “At This Hour,” Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol, who has been advocating for a third-party candidate to run against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton, said there is a “50/50” chance a serious national third-party candidate will run.
Kristol said, “Everyone has to make up his own mind on this and I think Paul Ryan is a very serious and impressive guy, but I hope he keeps his powder dry and makes — look, I think it’s reasonable for people, especially if they have elected office — it’s one thing for me to say I think there should be a third candidate. Paul Ryan is representing the Republican members of the House, the speaker of the House, the third-ranking person in the U.S. government. It’s a little harder for him to just go where I’m going. But I think it is very striking and this is the big news of the last week obviously — Trump clinches the nomination, all credit to him, terrifically clever campaign, impressive campaign and what happens? The Republican speaker of the House and the most recent Republican presidential candidate say ‘I’m sorry, I can’t support him now.’ That’s a pretty big news.”
When asked what the chances are there will be a third-party nominee Kristol said, “50/50 —for a serious candidate— I think there will be all people who will run in symbolic ways in specific states.”
When asked who could be that candidate Kristol said, “Ben Sasse,” who is a Republican Senator from Nebraska.
Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN
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