Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has lurched rightward after publicizing his independence from both political parties this month.
Anticipating the general election, Kennedy has styled himself as the choice for voters seeking candidates outside of the fray. He doesn’t endorse Democrats’ or Republicans’ ways of governing and has taken steps to create distance between his bid and the establishment figures opposing him.
But the attorney and anti-vax activist has nonetheless veered closer toward conservatism, controversial figureheads and far-right theories after switching parties, breaking from liberals dissatisfied with President Biden and raising Republicans’ worries that he could nab votes from their side.
“I think that he is a lot of things, but I don’t think he’s a dummy,” said Brian Seitchik, a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign veteran. “Now that he’s moved into running as an independent, I think his specific policy positions are frankly going to matter more.”
“On the surface, those positions are going to more appeal to Republican voters and therefore pull votes out of Donald Trump,” he said.
A significant sign of Kennedy’s shift came when his campaign manager, Dennis Kucinich, a stalwart progressive, abruptly departed his role just days after the candidate announced his independent bid during a speech in Philadelphia.
Kucinich, a former Ohio congressman and Cleveland mayor, teed up Kennedy’s announcement, listing off all the ways in which he is needed to quell the nation’s partisan fever. Just four days later, he was out. After helping to build the operation for roughly five months, Kucinich was replaced by Kennedy’s daughter-in-law, Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, a former CIA officer. The change sent a message that Kennedy was resisting a top-level association with Democrats, no matter how unconventional and progressive they were.
Strategists in both political camps concede that his last name — the closest thing to U.S. political royalty among Democrats for decades — could throw voters off, though some Republicans think he has a chance to effectively rebrand himself. For one, the era in which his family was a dominating force is long gone, and his association with conspiracy theories and unorthodox beliefs is more acceptable now.
“Camelot was [60] years ago. Of course there are voters who may pull the lever on such a simple matter. But I really don’t think that’s going to be the issue,” Seitchik said. “If Kennedy’s going to have an impact in this race, it’s not going to be because of his last name. It’s going to be because of his policy positions.”
The 69-year-old environmental lawyer has entertained several right-wing ideas throughout his campaign, especially around vaccines. He’s made media appearances on alternative programs sowing doubt around their effectiveness against COVID-19 and has been unveiled as a speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference, a forum for Republicans to tout their closest held ideology and visions.
As Republican candidates in the presidential primary look to craft their messaging, some now publicly and privately predict that Kennedy’s anti-vax posture could be a secret weapon with independent voters who don’t always align with mainstream narratives around the pandemic.
In the latest sign that the GOP is watching, candidates have started referencing him on the trail; some have outright criticized him, while others have acknowledged he’s a true dark horse, creating more intrigue around his campaign.
Ron DeSantis, who gained prominence as governor of Florida by denouncing lockdowns and downplaying masks and vaccines during the pandemic, said Kennedy would potentially cripple Trump’s chances of winning in the fall.
“You have another wrinkle now with RFK Jr. as a third party,” DeSantis said at a stop in New Hampshire, where Trump and other aspirants are fiercely competing. “RFK Jr. will be a vessel for anti-lockdown and anti-Fauci voters if Trump is the nominee,” building the case for his primary bid against the former president and current front-runner.
“He would hurt Trump,” DeSantis predicted.
Jason Cabel Roe, a GOP strategist based in Michigan, recently chatted with Kennedy while taping a media segment. He said that his nontraditional message is likely to resonate with voters who have lamented the leftward drift among Democrats.
“RFK’s message is very anti-corporate, anti-pharmaceuticals, anti-corporate media, so it’s still pretty consistent with the Kennedy brand and being the voice of the little guy,” Roe told The Hill. “It just so happens that right now the little guy is founding their home in the Republican Party, not the Democratic Party.”
New polling bolsters that argument. When Kennedy was part of the Democratic primary, he was seen by Republicans as a nonfactor. They discounted him winning enough support to challenge Biden and envisioned him dropping out at some point before the general election.
But the independent status change has made some Republicans anxious that he could be stepping on their terrain and may theoretically pull from otherwise gettable voters.
Trump allies and the Republican National Committee have sent warnings about Kennedy as a new independent, trying to knock him down and build an early narrative that he’s as liberal and left-wing as his namesake suggests.
But Roe said that running as an independent gives Kennedy more longevity in the race.
“I don’t die at the end of the Democratic nominating process. I can carve out a more independent posture; I can appeal to those people on the right without betraying my roots,” Roe said, speculating about how Kennedy could be thinking about his strategy.
Polling indicates that he’s giving Republican and pro-Trump figures reasons to worry. A USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll released this week showed that Kennedy diminishes what would otherwise be a slight lead for Trump over Biden in November.
According to the survey, Kennedy earned 13 percent of support, “drawing voters who by 2-1 said they would otherwise support the probable Republican nominee.” Another poll from NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist released last week also shows that he takes more votes away from Trump than Biden, providing an additional point of clarity for dazed operatives unsure about whose voting bloc he may pull from.
Kennedy earns 29 percent support among registered voters surveyed, compared to Trump’s 34 percent and Biden’s 33 percent, the poll indicates. “In a three-way contest with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. running as an independent, Biden opens up a 7-point lead over Trump. 44 percent of registered voters support Biden. 37 percent back Trump, and 16 percent are for Kennedy,” the survey reads.
Democrats eyeing the newly released numbers delighted that, according to the analysis, “Biden’s support dips 5 percentage points among Democrats while Trump loses 10 points among Republicans.”
One campaign strategist who worked for a Democratic candidate during the 2020 election texted enthusiastically about the findings. “Pulling far more from Trump!” the Democratic source said, expressing optimism that others in the party are searching for as Biden continues to drop in overall approval.
Meanwhile, Kennedy has gone after establishment forces such as the Democratic National Committee, which changed the primary calendar this cycle, and lobbied for New Hampshire to preserve its first-in-the-nation status.
“He seems like a fellow traveler on the liberty side of things,” said Roe, arguing that it’s there where he’s hoping to peel off independent voters and show enough traction to get on other state ballots.
“I think his shtick will be to attack both parties,” Roe said, adding that Kennedy also will likely have to level with voters at some point. “Hey guys, I’m not going to be the prototype of what you want. But I’m less of what you hate and more of what you like. And maybe the water’s warm just this one time.”
For Trump-aligned Republicans in particular, Roe said they should be concerned about Kennedy for a more basic reason: In a cycle rife with partisan attacks, where Democrats are eager to take down Trump as their biggest perceived threat, Kennedy offers a softer approach.
I saw a report a couple days ago that RFK Jr went to trump and said he would drop out and throw support behind him...only if trump gave him a cabinet level position.
RFK jr also played the same card with the dems and they told him no
It appears as if negotiations may be under way...................
The prospect of a Robert F. Kennedy Jr. alliance with former President Trump suddenly looks much more real.
Why it matters: Trump told CNN he "probably" would give RFK playing a role in his administration if the independent candidate quits the 2024 race and endorses the Republican nominee.
"I like him, and I respect him," Trump said to CNN's Kristen Holmes after RFK Jr.'s running mate Nicole Shanahan said the campaign is considering dropping its bid and joining forces with Trump.
Zoom in: "He's a brilliant guy. He's a very smart guy," Trump said.
"I've known him for a very long time. I didn't know he was thinking about getting out, but if he is thinking about getting out, certainly I'd be open to it."
The intrigue: One Kennedy backer called off a fundraiser next month in Utah after Shanahan's interview, NBC reports.
The bottom line: Kennedy exiting the race would likely help Trump, who tends to perform worse in polls when third-party candidates are included.
RFK Jr. is set to speak in Arizona hours before Trump as questions swirl around a possible alliance
PHOENIX (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump are set to appear miles apart in Arizona on Friday as speculation grows that Kennedy could drop his independent presidential bid and endorse the Republican nominee.
Kennedy is scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. Eastern time in Phoenix “about the present historical moment and his path forward,” according to his campaign. Hours later, Trump will hold a rally in neighboring Glendale. Trump’s campaign has teased that he will be joined by “a special guest,” though neither campaign responded to messages about whether Kennedy would be that guest.
Kennedy withdrew from the ballot in Arizona late Thursday, less than a week after he submitted well more than the required number of signatures to appear on the ballot. But his critics raised questions about the validity of some of the signatures, and the involvement of a pro-Kennedy super PAC to collect them risked potentially running afoul of rules against coordination between candidates and independent political groups.
A year ago, some would have thought it inconceivable that Kennedy — a member of the most storied family in Democratic politics — would work with Trump to keep a Democrat out of the White House. Even in recent months, Kennedy has accused Trump of betraying his followers, while Trump has criticized Kennedy as “the most radical left candidate in the race.”
But the two campaigns have ramped up their compliments to each other and engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions in recent weeks, according to those familiar with the efforts. Both campaigns have spent months accusing Democrats of weaponizing the legal system for their own benefit. And both have hinted publicly that they could be open to joining forces, with the shared goal of limiting the election chances of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Last month, during the Republican National Convention, Kennedy’s son posted and then quickly deleted a video showing a phone call between Kennedy and Trump, in which the former president appeared to try to talk Kennedy into siding with him.
Talks between the two camps have continued, with close Trump allies quietly lobbying Kennedy to drop out of the race and support the Republican nominee, according to a person familiar with the efforts who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.
Trump told CNN on Tuesday that he would “love” an endorsement from Kennedy, whom he called a “brilliant guy.” He also said he would “certainly” be open to Kennedy playing a role in his administration if Kennedy drops out and endorses him.
Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, also openly suggested on a podcast this week that his campaign might “walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump.” While she clarified that she is not personally in talks with Trump, she entertained the idea that Kennedy could join Trump’s administration as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
“I think that Bobby in a role like that would be excellent,” Shanahan said. “I fully support it. I have high hopes.”
Kennedy, a son of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and a nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, hasn’t disclosed the reason for his Friday remarks, but they come as his campaign’s momentum has slipped.
Kennedy Jr. first entered the 2024 presidential race as a Democrat but left the party last fall to run as an independent. He built an unusually strong base for a third-party bid, fueled in part by anti-establishment voters and vaccine skeptics who have followed his anti-vaccine work since the COVID-19 pandemic. But he has since faced strained campaign finances and mounting legal challenges, including a recent ruling from a New York judge that he should not appear on the ballot in the state because he listed a “sham” address on nominating petitions.
Recent polls put his support in the mid-single digits. And it’s unclear if he’d get even that in a general election, since third-party candidates frequently don’t live up to their early poll numbers when voters actually cast their ballots.
There’s some evidence that Kennedy’s staying in the race would hurt Trump more than Harris. According to a July AP-NORC poll, Republicans were significantly more likely than Democrats to have a favorable view of Kennedy. And those with a positive impression of Kennedy were significantly more likely to also have a favorable view of Trump (52%) than Harris (37%).
In an interview with MSNBC at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Thursday, Harris communications director Michael Tyler said her campaign welcomes Kennedy voters should the independent candidate drop out.
For voters who see Trump as a threat, who are looking for a new way forward, or who want “government to get the hell out of the way of their own personal decisions, there’s a home for you in Kamala Harris’ campaign,” Tyler said.
For Trump, Friday will mark the end of a week’s worth of battleground state visits in which he has sought to draw attention away from Democrats’ celebration of Harris’ presidential nomination in Chicago.
He traveled to Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina and Arizona’s U.S.-Mexico border for events focused on his policy proposals on the economy, crime and safety, national security and the border. He will close out the week Friday with stops in Las Vegas and Glendale.
One of the problems I hadn't considered with candidates trying to brandish themselves as third party. Gotta carry on that third party image until you want to try and sell that party's constituents to the highest bidder.
This is a glaring example of a wolf in sheep's clothing. I thought he was a whack job to begin with, but whether he ended up endorsing Kamala or Trump with a "hire me" quid pro quo is just plain despicable. I guess that's what can be expected of an American political "noble" though.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
Even his own family doesn't consider him noble. A lot of noise was being made about how him running would hurt the democrats. But that didn't make any sense to me from the beginning. His whackamole conspiracy theories and anti vaxxer beliefs would appeal much more to trump voters than democrats. From what I've seen he pitched this idea to the democrats first but they wanted nothing to do with him. But there's no doubt he would be useful to trump.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
I actually consider it a very sound strategy. This is going to be a very tight election as it stands now. In 2020 seven swing states were decided by 3% or less. Now RFK Junior may not have an impact of 3% in all of these states but it will take even less than that in some swing states.
As I think you can see it is so close even a small fraction of a percentage point in these swing states could decide the election in 2024. Now don't get me wrong here. I'm not a fan of nor do I endorse using quid pro quo in the exchange of power for votes. But as with many things I don't believe men from almost 250 years ago could have ever seen things like this happening in the future. Thus as far as I know it isn't illegal even if it should be.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
I think if you took any one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, or any one of the framers of the Constitution, reincarnated them, and had them witness what we currently have going on in our elections and politics, they would immediately demand to be placed back into the grave.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
People still clinging to the fable that the way things stand is the way or forefathers intended things to be are only fooling themselves. No matter how many times it gets explained to them that our forefathers didn't have a crystal ball they still can't seem to comprehend that they had no way to look into the future. Much as yourself I feel they would be disgusted by where we are now.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
People still clinging to the fable that the way things stand is the way or forefathers intended things to be are only fooling themselves. No matter how many times it gets explained to them that our forefathers didn't have a crystal ball they still can't seem to comprehend that they had no way to look into the future. Much as yourself I feel they would be disgusted by where we are now.
I don’t think that most people cling to that fable. Most people realize the constitution can be amended. It has been amended 27 times. It’s a document in constant progress. Our forefathers knew that it would be. They put the guardrails on but it’s not impossible to crash through them like Trump has done.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson.
It's not, or certainly wasn't impossible. But people have never clung to it like it's The Ten Commandments in quite the way they are doing now. I'm not sure why anyone would believe an amendment to the constitution could be passed in today's political climate.
Quote
An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress, or, if two-thirds of the States request one, by a convention called for that purpose. The amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the State legislatures, or three-fourths of conventions called in each State for ratification.
Unless or until there are some very drastic changes to our government, as it stands this is currently an impossibility.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Keep the faith bro. Atleast the dems passed the torch. All we need now is a young moderate conservative to put out the trump dumpster fire once and for all.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson.
I think if you took any one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, or any one of the framers of the Constitution, reincarnated them, and had them witness what we currently have going on in our elections and politics, they would immediately demand to be placed back into the grave.
Robert Kennedy agrees with you.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lambasts 'DNC-aligned mainstream media,' accuses them of engineering Harris' rise 'Your institutions have made themselves government mouthpieces and stenographers for the organs of power,' Kennedy tells reporters
By David Rutz Fox News Published August 23, 2024 7:00pm EDT
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lit into liberal "media organs" of the Democratic Party in his remarks suspending his campaign on Friday, accusing them of essentially colluding with the party to stifle him and create a veneer of popularity for nominee Kamala Harris.
"Over the course of more than a year … the DNC-aligned mainstream media networks maintained a near-perfect embargo on interviews with me," he said. "During his 10-month presidential campaign in 1992, Ross Perot gave 34 interviews on mainstream networks. In contrast, during the 16 months since I declared, ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, and CNN combined gave only two live interviews [with] me. Those networks instead ran a continuous deluge of hit pieces with inaccurate, often vile pejoratives and defamatory smears. Some of those same networks colluded with the DNC to keep me off the debate stage."
Kennedy, the nephew of President John F. Kennedy and son of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, both of whom were assassinated, also said his famous Democratic family members would have been "astonished" to learn Harris had not done a single interview or "unscripted encounter with voters" in the nearly five weeks she's been leading the party.
"This is profoundly undemocratic. How are people to choose when they don’t know whom they are choosing, and how can this look to the rest of the world?" he asked. "My father and my uncle were always conscious of America’s image abroad, because of our nation’s role as the template for democracy, a role model for democratic processes, and the leader of the free world. Instead of showing us her substance and character, the DNC and its media organs engineered a surge of popularity for Vice President Harris based upon, well, nothing.
"No policies, no interviews, no debates, only smoke and mirrors and balloons in a highly produced Chicago circus."
Harris rapidly ascended to the Democratic nomination after President Biden, under intense pressure from party leaders, stepped aside from the 2024 race last month and endorsed his vice president. The party coalesced quickly around Harris, who formally accepted the nomination on Thursday.
Kennedy launched his long-shot campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in April of last year, but by October the 70-year-old candidate had switched to an independent run for the White House.
Kennedy scolded press members at his speech to consider their "really sacred responsibility" to challenge the party in power, which he accused of systematically keeping him from fairly challenging Biden for the Democratic nomination.
Kennedy also lambasted his former political party as one that "abandoned democracy" and was now a party of "war, censorship, corruption" and major pharmaceutical and tech companies.
"In an honest system, I believe that I would have won the election," he said. "I no longer believe that I have a realistic past of electoral victory in the face of this relentless, systematic censorship and media control."
Spokespersons for ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and MSNBC didn't immediately respond to requests for comment on Kennedy's accusations that they colluded against them.
Kennedy specifically addressed representatives of their outlets who were on hand for his comments.
"Your institutions have made themselves government mouthpieces and stenographers for the organs of power. You didn’t alone cause the devolution of American democracy, but you could have prevented it," Kennedy said.
Kennedy has sunk in the polls from the double digits earlier this summer to an average of around 4 percent in recent surveys. Whether his backing of Trump will provide a boon to the Republican ticket remains to be seen, but even a gain of one or two percentage points could be decisive in battleground states.
Trump welcomed the endorsement while speaking Friday in Las Vegas, thanking Kennedy and calling him "respected by everybody."
The DNC was unconcerned, telling Fox News Digital, "Good riddance."
Asked for comment, the Harris campaign said that any American who was tired of Trump and "looking for a new way forward" could come to her team.
"In order to deliver for working people and those who feel left behind, we need a leader who will fight for you, not just for themselves, and bring us together, not tear us apart. Vice President Harris wants to earn your support," a spokesperson said. "Even if we do not agree on every issue, Kamala Harris knows there is more that unites us than divides us: respect for our rights, public safety, protecting our freedoms, and opportunity for all."
Problem is the dude himself tried to sell out to both sides from what I’ve read. I think he’s lost a lot of credibility in being a new age maverick so to speak.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
Problem is the dude himself tried to sell out to both sides from what I’ve read. I think he’s lost a lot of credibility in being a new age maverick so to speak.
The "media" makes lots of claims on the Democrats' behalf. Personally, the things that are written have lost a lot of credibility. That's RFK's gripe, which based on the state of the media, would seem to have at least some credibility. It's hard (impossible?) to find a major news source that doesn't seem to cater to one major party or the other.
I don't think RFK Jr has a ton of credibility. I do think the left makes things up and twists things to try to make themselves look better. It's politics. One can't take anything at face value. I'd guess the Dems initiated the interaction. They tried to buy his support, he said not unless you make it worth my while. They couldn't agree. I don't think he tried to sell himself. I think both parties tried to buy him, and the Republicans offered a seat at the big boys' table while the left offered a post in Siberia and some free concert tickets (figuratively speaking.)
You mess with the "Bull," you get the horns. Fiercely Independent.
It's crazy you should say that. That's what most democrats were saying about Kamala just six weeks ago. Many liberal rags were screaming for Joe to replace her.
Six weeks later, she's the most bright, shiney star since JFK!!
Seriously, the Kennedy name can only buy you so much air time.
Dean Phillips had a more credible claim.
Mary Ann Williamson has more credibility.
...And Trump isn't a "wackadoodle?" Biden wasn't there for a bit? "Wackadoodles" aren't prohibited from running for office sadly. Kamala has her moments, too.
RFK Jr. cleared the hurdles to get on some ballots. The people have the right to hear his platform. The Democrats don't seem to want people to. They want Trump's rambling, not someone who can speak in (occasionally rational) complete sentences and poke holes in their fairy tales. The Democrats exploiting people's desire for a better life while really just increasing their "indebtedness" to the party... sucks. I don't claim the Republicans are any better. The desire to believe in a better future seems to blind people (on both sides) to a lot.
You mess with the "Bull," you get the horns. Fiercely Independent.
I didn't watch that. Were they eaten by cannibals??
You see, this is an RFK Jr. thread. That's the actual topic of discussion. It wasn't me who opened this door. It was you. But then again it's typical for the person who is driving the clown car to blame the accident on one of his passengers.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Politics- mostly lawyers...meaning worst than used car salesman and pond scum.....RFK jr quote- "In text messages obtained by The New Yorker earlier this month, Kennedy called Trump a “terrible human being” and said the former president was “probably a sociopath” while attending the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last month." So, Kennedy thinks a terrible person, a sociopath, a convicted felon is the best choice for USA......and MAIN reason he gave was Trump would negotiate with Putin to stop "the war" immediately......damn, all these idiots are from dreamland. God help us.....BEAT TRUMP.
"You've never lived till you've almost died, life has a flavor the protected will never know" A vet or cop
It's crazy you should say that. That's what most democrats were saying about Kamala just six weeks ago. Many liberal rags were screaming for Joe to replace her.
Six weeks later, she's the most bright, shiney star since JFK!!
I never heard anyone in the Dem side ever refer to her as anything but a tough Prosecutor
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe." Damanshot
It's crazy you should say that. That's what most democrats were saying about Kamala just six weeks ago. Many liberal rags were screaming for Joe to replace her.
Six weeks later, she's the most bright, shiney star since JFK!!
I never heard anyone in the Dem side ever refer to her as anything but a tough Prosecutor
Live footage of Daman watching the news?
You mess with the "Bull," you get the horns. Fiercely Independent.
![[Linked Image from i.ibb.co]](https://i.ibb.co/fkjZc8B/Bull-Dawg-Sig-smaller.jpg)
![[Linked Image from media1.tenor.com]](https://media1.tenor.com/m/hKXVcrRRtpIAAAAC/jim-carrey-jim-carrey-dumb-and-dumber.gif)
