A Former CIA Officer, Conservative Candidate for the U.S. Elections

Evan McMullin, a former CIA officer in counter-terrorism, is a new face aiming to enter the U.S. presidential election as a "conservative" candidate from groups outside the two main parties, or the "third stream." Mr. McMullin stated in a statement that due to the significant importance of the elections and the current process, "I cannot remain on the sidelines." This former Central Intelligence Agency officer says, "Our country needs leaders who are present for the right and true reasons and understand what makes America the greatest country on Earth. Leaders who, despite our broken and fragmented political system, intend to unite us and guide us toward a safe and prosperous future." In an interview with ABC News, he accused Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party candidate, of having a "corrupt political background" and, referring to her use of a personal server while she was Secretary of State, said, "She failed to make the right decisions regarding fundamental and ethical principles" and cannot become President of the United States. Evan McMullin also commented on Donald Trump, the Republican Party candidate, stating that he is causing the deepest fears for the American people in the current situation: "We need unity, not division." According to McMullin, Republicans have split into two factions because of Trump, and he may win the election and hold the most powerful position in the world: "and many rightly see him as a real threat to our republic (the United States)." ABC News reports that McMullin's supporters, seeing him as someone who can attract votes from some Republicans in states that have not yet been willing to vote for Trump, are hopeful. The U.S. presidential election is primarily a competition between the two main parties, the Republicans and Democrats. However, intra-party disagreements, including Trump's selection by Republicans and protests from Bernie Sanders' supporters over Clinton's selection in the Democratic Party, may increase the chances for some "third stream" candidates. Although the likelihood of their election in the November 8 voting is very unlikely, they could cause a drop in votes for both main party candidates. On the other side of the American political scene, "third stream" candidates are positioned with liberal votes, libertarians, and Jill Stein from the Green Party. Previously, Politico reported that some polls show that particularly young people are seriously and for the first time paying more attention to the "third stream," a matter that could cause trouble for both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in November.