Google searches for ‘third-party candidate’ spike during GOP convention

Google says searches for a “third-party candidate” rose 1,150 percent during this week’s Republican National Convention.

Google searches for a third-party candidate spiked by 1,150%
during the Republican National… https://t.co/H4LwHnYZG6 pic.twitter.com/XUUBg0FcBt

— Nitya PN (@nitya_pn) July 22, 2016

The four-day event in Cleveland ended Thursday with Donald Trump formally accepting his party’s presidential nomination.

{mosads}Hillary Clinton is slated to accept her party’s nomination during the Democrats’ convention next week in Philadelphia.

But both Clinton and Trump consistently score high unfavorable ratings in multiple polls.

Trump has also struggled with the Never Trump movement that vowed to oppose his nomination. But those Trump critics also faltered at efforts to attract a challenger.

Clinton could face difficulty winning over Bernie Sanders supporters after a tough primary fight.

Some third-party candidates, including Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein, are also looking to gain traction.

A RealClearPolitics average of polls with all four candidates shows Clinton leading, with 40.9 percent, Trump second, with 37.3 percent, Johnson at 8.3 percent, and Stein with 4 percent.