One week after it was revealed that Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol was actually attempting to draft National Review writer David French to launch an independent bid for the presidency, French announced his decision not to run this evening:
Here is a sentence I never thought I’d type: After days of prayer, reflection, and serious study of the possibilities, I am not going to run as an independent candidate for president of the United States.
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French's potential candidacy took Twitter by a storm last week, as tens of thousands of people collectively asked "who?"
While it is certainly true that any potential independent candidate, even a former governor and two time presidential contender like Mitt Romney, would probably suffer badly in a campaign against the major candidates, someone like French stood almost no chance of registering in the polls, let alone competing for votes.
None of this is to speak negatively of French, who is a respected constitutional attorney, writer, and Veteran of the Iraq War, but the whole idea of him being considered to face off against a former U.S. Secretary of State and a multi-billionaire, both of whom have near universal name recognition, was a desperate ploy from the get go.
However, it begs the question of - with no other candidates likely to emerge - will disaffected conservatives and independents rally behind Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson? With poll numbers hovering at or near the ten percent mark, his candidacy represents the best outlet for voters opposed to Clinton and Trump to have a voice.
