Prominent Green Party figure Jill Stein has been a thorn in the side of Democrats going back to 2016, where she was blamed - along with Russia - for allegedly costing twice-failed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton the election to Donald Trump.

In fact, it's become an accepted narrative in media circles that it was Stein's fault Clinton lost. Take, for instance, this 2020 piece from Politico, which includes the headline "Jill Stein cost Hillary dearly in 2016. Democrats are still writing off her successor." In it, they noted the states where the vote was close, close enough that if Stein's voters voted for Clinton she maybe would have won:

Jill Stein still haunts Hillary Clinton’s campaign team.

“Oh woof. I can’t bear to talk about that,” said former communications director Jennifer Palmieri.

For good reason: Had voters in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin cast their ballots for Clinton rather than the Green Party’s Stein, Clinton would be president.

While even Vox.com has disputed such claims, Clinton clearly agrees with the assessment, calling Stein - along with former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard - "Russian assets" in 2019 who were allegedly colluding with Vladimir Putin to upset Democrat chances for victory in presidential races by launching long-shot third-party candidacies (which Gabbard did not do). 

And now, with RFK Jr.'s and Cornel West's Independent party candidacies for president looming large over Joe Biden, not to mention the primary challenge from Democrat Rep. Dean Phillips, Stein has once again thrown her hat into the ring in a move that is sure to cause more panic among Democrats who are already fretting about Joe's chances in 2024:

“Our democracy is on life support,” Stein wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, previewing a Nov. 21 campaign kickoff.

“Belief in our political system is at historic lows and the number of Americans who feel that neither establishment party represents them is at a record high. We need real choices on the ballot, because without freedom of choice in elections, there is no democracy. It’s time to revive the promise of democracy.”

Stein wrote on her website that she is entering the presidential race “to offer people a choice outside the failed two-party system, so we can put a pro-worker, anti-war, climate emergency agenda front and center in this election and on the ballot in November.”

Watch:

The political system is broken. Over 60% of us now say the two-party establishment has failed us and we need a party that serves the people.

I’m running for President to offer a better choice for the people. Join us!https://t.co/sjGXNNSnmK pic.twitter.com/QkrugPGadb

— Dr. Jill Stein🌻 (@DrJillStein) November 9, 2023

Already, the Very Online Left is smashing the panic button, with the consensus seeming to be that "If you voted for Jill Stein in 2016, you 1000% have a hand in why we're where we are today.  YOU are responsible for the 1st Trump term."

"Jill Stein is like a bad rash," another self-described lifelong Democrat suggested.

The Hillary-pushed conspiracy theories about Stein being a Green Party plant for Republicans, Trump especially, are also swirling on social media because of course they are.

While there is disagreement even among my RedState colleagues as to which major party nominee RFK Jr. potentially could hurt the most in the 2024 general election, it is undeniable that a formidable challenge by an established third-party candidate like Jill Stein - whose far-left creds are unassailable - will make Joe Biden's uphill reelection battle even harder for him, which suits Republicans just fine.

2024 just may be the most fascinating presidential election year we've had in a very long time, so go ahead and stock up on the popcorn ahead of time because we're in for quite the roller coaster ride - not just with the presidential race, but with other ones, too.

As always, stay tuned!

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