Jill Stein supporters rally by Galleria to get candidate in the debates

Jill Stein supporters gathered Sunday near the Galleria, advocating for their candidate's inclusion in the presidential debates. Click through to see highlights from the Green Party convention in August. Jill Stein supporters gathered Sunday near the Galleria, advocating for their candidate's inclusion in the presidential debates. Click through to see highlights from the Green Party convention in August. Photo: Keri Blakinger Photo: Keri Blakinger Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Jill Stein supporters rally by Galleria to get candidate in the debates 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

The rain did nothing to dampen the political hopes of the cadre of devoted Jill Stein supporters that gathered Sunday near the Galleria to rally in hopes of getting the trailing Green Party candidate into the presidential debates.

Waving "#LetJillDebate" and "Jill Stein 4 President" signs, a group of about 10 people gave speeches and led a roadside protest at the corner of Westheimer and Post Oak, some even continuing their crusade during quick bouts of torrential rain.

"If Donald Trump wins, it'll be a civil war and if Hillary Clinton wins, it'll be World War III," said one protester.

The group voiced their support for Stein's drug policies, her emphasis on green energy and her anti-war stance. And - like some Bernie Sanders supporters before them - they decried what they see as an unfair and "rigged" electoral process.

"The debates are part of a rigged system of the elite maintaining power in the duopoly," rallier Don Cook said.

The 68-year-old toted a colorful sign emblazoned with a sunflower, which he put down as he laid out the reasons for his third-party vote.

READ MORE: Green Party nominates Jill Stein for president

"These are the most unpopular major party candidates ever. Would you vote for Hitler just because he was going to win? I wouldn't," he said, dismissing the idea that a vote for Stein is a wasted vote.

In order to get their candidate the airtime they want, Stein's supporters are pushing for her presence on the debate stage - no matter how "rigged" it is.

For most third-party candidates, though, that's a long shot. The Commission on Presidential Debates requires that candidate poll at 15 percent in order to step into the debate spotlight - and Stein's numbers are still coming in significantly below that.

But for her supporters, it's about the principle.

"For decades now the citizens of America have been spending money their children will have to pay off but now that their children can vote they should listen to what they have to say and they should let the children's candidate in the debate," said Johnathan Brohawn.

The 21-year-old gymnastics coach started this election cycle as a Sanders supporter - but jumped ship when the populist pick endorsed Clinton, his erstwhile rival.

"I was like, "Well, alright,' I guess we're going with Stein," he said. "It's about an idea, not a politician."

Photo: Keri Blakinger Supporters of the trailing third-party candidate rallied in support...

Rallying next to him, 29-year-old Sarah Burnett said she also started supporting Stein after Sanders lost the nomination.

"With all the election fraud, I didn't want to vote for Hillary," she said.

Although Brohawn and Burnett both shifted to back Stein, that puts them in a minority of former Sanders supporters, according to some polls. In July, Pew Research found that about 90 percent of the voters who were Feeling the Bern leading up to primary season still said they would vote for Clinton in the general election. A CNN poll around the same time only 13 percent of Sanders supporters planned to back Stein.

But clearly - with only a handful of people on the ground Sunday - numbers don't deter Stein's devotees.

Despite fervid pockets of support, the third party candidate has lagged in polls, coming in well behind both major party candidates. One Public Policy Poll in Texas showed her tied with faux candidate Harambe, the gorilla killed at the Cincinnati Zoo.

"Those were Texas polls, so those aren't surprising to me," said Jeremy Diemert, the 17-year-old who organized Sunday' event.

Even though he's not old enough to vote just yet, Diemert is already spouting strong political views.

"I don't see a big difference in foreign policy between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton - Donald Trump wants to ban Muslims and Hillary Clinton spent her whole career bombing them," he said. "If Hillary Clinton loses, it's her fault she didn't make a compelling argument."

Clinton - and her GOP opponent - will get their next chance to make a compelling argument at Monday night's presidential debate, at Hofstra University in New York. NBC news anchor Lester Holt will moderate the on-air face-off.

After an early October vice presidential debate in Virginia, the candidates for commander-in-chief will spar again in St. Louis and Las Vegas. All debates run from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EST, according to the Commission on Presidential Debates.