This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The Green party presidential nominee Jill Stein ran late for a Columbus campaign event on Friday because she accidentally flew to Cincinnati, where she is due to hold a rally on Sunday.



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The Harvard-educated physician was due to address supporters and students at Capital University near downtown Columbus at noon. She instead mistakenly arrived in Cincinnati, according to the local chapter of the Ohio Green party.

“There was apparently a misunderstanding by the person who made her flight arrangements – and that was not us,” said Suzanne Patzer of the Ohio Green party.

Patzer said several dozen people had come to Schaaf Lawn on the university campus, but it was unclear how many would stick around to hear Stein speak. According to the Columbus Dispatch, pizzas were ordered to thank attendees for their patience.

Stein recently drew national attention over an interview with the Washington Post’s editorial board that was summed up by the headline: “Jill Stein’s fairy-tale candidacy”. The Post said her policy proposals were far-fetched and unrealistic and seemed unconvinced by her grasp of foreign policy.

Randy Ludlow (@RandyLudlow) Bob Fitrakis grabs some free pizza while waiting for Green Party's Jill Stein to show up at Capital U. pic.twitter.com/81AB0uL8Fv

Stein’s campaign brushed off the incident as a “miscommunication with travel coordination”.

“This is what happens when people don’t have private travel agents and private jets at their disposal,” spokeswoman Meleiza Figueroa said in an email. “These are issues that everyday people face when they travel.

“Our campaign is having to handle tremendous growth and momentum in a very short time, and what’s important is the wild enthusiasm on the ground that we are experiencing everywhere we go.”

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Seeking support among disaffected supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders, Stein is running on a platform that includes bold plans to reduce the impact of climate change as well as now-popular progressive proposals such as a $15 minimum wage and free college tuition.

The environmental-health advocate, who has drawn criticism for remarks that made some associate her with the anti-vaccination movement, is currently polling in the low single digits. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate, is better placed to reach the stage for the presidential debates.

In one recent Texas poll, Stein polled even with Harambe, a gorilla that was shot dead after a three-year-old child fell into his enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo. Last weekend, Stein memorialized Harambe on Twitter, calling for his death to serve as a reminder to be a “voice for the voiceless”.