Could Jill Stein Debate Hillary Clinton And Donald Trump In September?

Dr. Jill Stein, the presumptive Green Party nominee, hopes to debate with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in the fall, according to Bustle. It would be a welcome treat for Americans eager for a meaningful intellectual discourse from a more diverse field. Perhaps Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson could also join them.

Hillary Clinton, though, might have little to gain and a lot to lose in debating Stein. Jill is a populist and liberal candidate with a platform almost identical to Bernie’s major talking points. How could Clinton benefit by giving Dr. Stein more exposure?

Jill Stein would have to merit the attention by getting high poll numbers. Bustle reports that Stein and Johnson would have to garner at least 15 percent of the vote in five recent polls to gain entry to the scheduled debates. So far Jill is at only 7 percent, but it is still early in the race. None of the parties have had their conventions yet, making all nominees less than official. All of them are still presumptive nominees.

The Green Party will not hold their convention until August 6. Jill’s party will likely gain more support after the Democratic Convention. Many Bernie Sanders supporters will see the convention through to the end before considering other candidates.

Hillary Clinton could elect to debate with Donald Trump only or include Gary Johnson and exclude Stein. It will likely be her decision who she chooses to debate if she continues to lead in the polls, notwithstanding the 15 percent requirement.

Jill Stein indicated to CNN on Wednesday that the system is broken. She compared the current political system to an illness.

“I’m a physician, not a politician. We have a very broken system under the two political parties that have been throwing us under the bus. I think we badly need a change. I think (the voters) understand if we are going to fix the rigged economy we need to fix our broken political system… It’s the mother of all illnesses.”

Dr. Jill Stein was quick to point out to CNN that Clinton’s popularity is flagging. Could this give the Green Party candidate an actual shot at the presidency?

“The majority of Hillary Clinton supporters don’t support her — they actually oppose Donald Trump. At the same time, about 60% of voters are clamoring for another voice and another choice… who is actually an honest broker.”

Hillary Clinton supporters are the most loyal of Democrats. Many of them are elderly and will not likely seek a third-party candidate. However, disenfranchised Bernie supporters, independents, and Republicans who don’t like Donald Trump are likely to choose one of the third-party candidates, potentially making the 2016 election a four-party race.

Jill Stein’s potential to attract votes will be at an all-time high as it is anticipated the Green Party will be on the ballot in 47 if not all 50 states. The Libertarian Party also believes it will likely appear on the ballot in all 50 states, and if not, they will be on in at least 47. This would give all four parties a real chance to be elected. Voters hesitate to vote for candidates who cannot win because they can’t get on the ballot in most states.

Hillary Clinton scares Jill Stein, not as an opponent but as a potential leader, according to quotes on Politico.

“There is no safe state under a Democratic or Republican future. While it’s horrifying to hear the draconian things that Donald Trump is talking about, we’ve actually seen HillaryClinton doing them. I think it’s an offense to the concept of feminism to say that Hillary Clinton—and her advocacy for war, for Wall Street and for the ‘Walmart Economy’—represents feminism.”

Jill Stein is ready to debate Hillary Clinton but fears America is not prepared to live under a Clinton or Trump presidency.

[Photo by Mark Wilson and Spencer Platt/Getty Images]