From Peter’s Desk: A Race for the Duration

With last night's closing address by Vice President Kamala Harris, the two major parties have completed their conventions and launched their presidential candidates into the closing two months of the campaign. 

Although the Harris vs. Donald Trump matchup was not what I expected for November, voters' options have not changed much. Party identities suggest there is interest in appealing broadly to voters but party ideologies suggest there is little concern for the common good. Focus is on each party's core voter base and its polarizing policy agendas.

Beyond that, rumors are rampant that Robert Kennedy Jr. is about to end his presidential candidacy and offer an endorsement. This will create some upheaval among voters who saw a Kennedy vote as a welcome option on election day. Unlike anytime in my memory, it's evident that many voters are truly conflicted.

I was intrigued by an exchange of Catholic public intellectuals on X (Twitter) earlier this week, debating the merits of voting for a major party candidate versus registering a "protest" vote for a third party. I would not be making the commitment to vye for the presidency if it were merely an opportunity for protest.

The American Solidarity Party is plainly a longshot to win the White House in 2024, but its policies and ambitions are distinct from the duopoly's status quo. Moreover, the ASP is centered on ending divisiveness and refocusing government on the needs of the populace rather than the wants and whims of party donors and elites.

Lauren and I are in the race for the duration, committed to represent a real alternative to the present state of affairs in federal politics. Your vote for the ASP ticket shouldn't be viewed as a protest. Instead, it is a vote for the greater good of America. 

It's been said that "great things start from small beginnings." Let your vote for the ASP ticket on November 5 be the start of something great!