The goal of the Evan McMullin campaign isn't to "win"....

[brooklynite]

It's to give "real Republicans" a candidate to vote for who comes closer to the establishment wing of the Party:
- Former senior adviser on national security issues for the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Former chief policy director of the House Republican Conference
- close ties to Mitt Romney

They're smart enough to know that he won't be able to win against a well organized and well financed Democrat this late in the game, but the hope is to ensure that Trump loses badly, and in so doing destroying the "Trumpist" influence over the Party management, limiting downballot loses, and giving a "real" Republican like Ryan a solid chance in 2020.

[writes3000]

1. Yep! This is Romney or Ryan's plan for 2020.

[awake]

2. Another reason is to stop the "true Republicans" from backing Hillary

We have seen a lot of them showing up lately.

[whatthehey]

3. Yes. This is not a play to win or even ratfuck EVs. It's a cover pure and simple.

This won't take a single EV from Ds and will likely cede a bunch as a split R vote in a pale red state means a Dem win. What it will do is give vulnerable Senators and Reps a chance to say "No I'm not a Trump loony; I'm a decent sane McMullin guy so don't kick me out." and positions the 2020 nominee to credibly disavow Trumpism and pretend to be reasonable.

[NurseJackie]

4. He's bait or a lure to get R's to the polls and at least vote down-ticket.

That's my best guess.

[rjsquirrel]

5. It's a Western state strategy

He's LDS and a native of Utah.

This looks good to me. She could win Utah and Arizona and Nevada gets easier.

Fascinating. I keep looking for the downside.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

7. Thanks for the confirmation about LDS. n/t

[rjsquirrel]

8. Yep

Mormon mission service, BYU, not sure if he still practices.

A 40 year old successful LDS man with no wife and kids is unusual, however.

I watched the one TedX video of him talking about genocide. He's smart, articulate, but I wouldn't call him charismatic in the usual presidential sense. I found myself agreeing with some of his points and impressed by his knowledge, I will say.

Oh the times we live in.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

9. Is there a chance he could get some Clinton voters?

I doubt it, but I hope that he's just wacky enough to not win them over.

[rjsquirrel]

11. I think he could siphon some

conservatives who would otherwise have voted Clinton, but not nearly as much as he will help dilute Trump's thin support in certain western states.

Downside is he drives higher conservative turnout. But he will definitely attract "Never Hillary" as well as "Never Trump" folks. And there are a lot of them in red states.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

6. Is he a confirmed Mormon?

If so, he could probably help Clinton in Utah, Arizona and Nevada.

[rjsquirrel]

10. He did mission service

and graduated from BYU after growing up in Provo.

Not sure if he still practices, but his background is definitely LDS. His manner is also polite, measured, informed, and thoughtful. He's a serious person.

Someone with his views could be useful in a Clinton administration. He's a hawk but he's a humanitarian too.

I see no downside here. Especially if he costs Trump Arizona and Utah.