'Stalking horse for Trump': Cornel West slammed as GOP operatives assist third-party candidate in North Carolina ballot drive

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA: Cornel West, an independent presidential candidate known for his socialist stance and pro-Palestine advocacy, is making strides to secure a spot on the ballot in North Carolina.

His campaign’s efforts, however, have garnered attention and controversy due to unexpected support from Republican operatives.

GOP's ties in Cornel West campaign's signature collection efforts

NBC News has reported that the Justice for All Party, which supports West, authorized three individuals to collect signatures who either work for or previously worked for Blitz Canvassing, a Republican political firm.

Blitz Canvassing has a history of supporting numerous Republican House and Senate candidates, including former presidential candidate Ron DeSantis.

West campaign spokesperson Edwin DeJesus commented on the matter, stating that the campaign was “not aware of these particular individuals being involved with a Republican firm” and therefore had “no specific comments since we are not familiar with them or their affiliations.”

He added, “However, it’s important to note that our volunteer base encompasses a broad spectrum of political affiliations.”

The NBC report highlighted that a significant portion of West’s signatures in North Carolina originated from counties with strong Republican voter bases. This is particularly striking given West’s political orientation, which typically aligns with leftist ideals.

In April, a Republican activist was recorded collecting signatures for West outside a Trump rally in Wilmington, North Carolina.

“This helps take away votes from Joe Biden,” activist Scott Presler told a rallygoer, according to a clip posted by a Washington Post reporter. Presler further stated, “We’re helping the Trump team who’s trying to get him on there,” echoing the sentiment that West’s presence on the ballot could siphon votes from Biden.

Presler's involvement and West's response

Documents obtained by NBC News suggest that the involvement of Republican operatives was not a mere stunt.

Hundreds of pages of petition signatures submitted by the Justice for All Party, accessed through a public records request, show that dozens of registered Republicans signed petitions to get West on the ballot on the same day as the Trump rally and in the same county.

Presler, who boasts 1.5 million followers on the social media platform X, actively encouraged participation in the signature collection drive.

Ahead of North Carolina’s ballot deadline, he posted, “We are working on getting Dr Cornel West on the ballot in North Carolina. If anyone is interested in helping, let me know.”

A week later, he updated his followers, stating that he had already “sent 40+ folks to our North Carolina organizer, but are still looking for more.”

When asked about Presler on CNN in April, West expressed unfamiliarity with the right-wing influencer and disinterest in his support. “No, no, I don’t think so, if it’s just manipulative,” West said. “If people are just going to use this candidate for X and Y, no, not at all.”

Cornel West is not the only third-party candidate receiving assistance from Republicans. Robert F Kennedy Jr, another independent candidate, has also seen substantial support from conservative donors and advisers.

However, this cross-party support has sparked concern among Republicans that such efforts could inadvertently harm Donald Trump’s campaign.

Critics argue that West’s campaign, perceived by some as a vanity project, could function as a spoiler in the 2024 presidential election, potentially affecting Joe Biden’s chances.

West himself has been vocal about his disdain for both major party candidates, describing the choice between them as deciding between “neofascists like brother Trump or milquetoast neoliberals like brother Biden.”

In addition to these political dynamics, West has faced scrutiny over his personal finances. A Daily Beast investigation in August revealed that he owed $543,778.78 in unpaid taxes.

Cornel West slammed on social media

Following the revelations of Republican involvement in West's signature collection efforts, critics on social media were quick to voice their disapproval.

"He is such a hypocrite," one posted on X. "Cornel West is a stalking horse for Trump. Plain and simple," another chimed in.

"Useful idiot. Just like Jared Kushner helped boost Kanye's run for president in 2020. Pathetic," someone else fumed.

"Cornel, my man, you have had your moment...now go away. Thank you," a comment read.

"Far left and far right have more in common with each other than they care to admit to. Be wary of extremists," another offered.

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