An independent conservative candidate will announce that he is entering the 2016 race for the White House, according to “Morning Joe” co-host Joe Scarborough.
BREAKING FIRST ON @Morning_Joe: Multiple sources say an independent conservative candidate will announce his candidacy for president today.
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) August 8, 2016
Scarborough also said that the person who would be entering would so so with the intention of winning:
“It does appear that there is going to be a well-funded independent candidate…that is going to at least try to get on 20 t0 30 state ballots. They still believe they can go past the 270 threshold, so this person will be able to be in debates. But certainly it is aimed, I believe — and this is just my conjecture, based upon the people I’ve been speaking with — that this has more to do with stopping Donald Trump than actually electing the president.”
Within moments of Scarborough’s announcement, speculation began on who might be the new entry into the race for President. The name that was soon tossed around was that of Evan McMullin. Evan who? McMullin is a Brigham Young University graduate, chief policy director of the House Republican conference, and longtime veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Could McMullin be the mystery man? Scarborough did nothing to dissuade that notion:
Multiple sources tell me the candidate is Evan McMullin. Wharton grad, CIA alum, Goldman Sachs, Republican Policy Director, US House
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) August 8, 2016
Reaction from conservatives to McMullin was tepid at best:
"Who?" — David French
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) August 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/lachlan/status/762624268379316224
Fundraising and ballot access will make for a tough road ahead for Evan McMullin. https://t.co/E2PgRX4MVu
— Julian Routh (@julianrouth) August 8, 2016
People are still talking about McMullin’s bid?
— Philip Bump (@pbump) August 8, 2016
However, if McMullin could get ballot access in states such as Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, it might, in conjunction with the candidacy of Libertarian Gary Johnson, be the death knell for the Trump campaign and all but guarantee that Trump loses in an electoral landslide.
As we’ve learned in 2016, just about anything can happen. Stay tuned.
