Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has chosen lawyer and philanthropist Nicole Shanahan as his running mate for the upcoming presidential election. The announcement has sparked concern among Democratic allies of President Joe Biden, who fear that Kennedy’s independent bid could split the vote and benefit former President Donald Trump.
Despite Biden’s focus on Trump, the Democratic National Committee has hired a team of attorneys to monitor Kennedy’s efforts to get on the ballot in key battleground states. They are working to paint Kennedy as a radical conspiracy theorist, funded by a Trump Super PAC’s largest donor, in an effort to dissuade voters from supporting him.
Kennedy’s current polling numbers show that he has the support of 11.7% of likely voters, enough to potentially swing outcomes in battleground states. Democrats are wary of a repeat of past elections where third-party candidates like Jill Stein and Ralph Nader siphoned votes away from Democratic nominees.
Kennedy’s campaign has faced attacks from both Democrats and Trump’s allies, who see him as a potential spoiler in the election. Despite his current standing in the polls, political observers debate whether Kennedy will take more votes away from Biden or Trump.
As the DNC ramps up its efforts to define Kennedy and his positions, the campaign remains defiant. Kennedy’s press secretary stated that they plan to be a spoiler for both Biden and Trump, as well as other powerful interests in politics.
With the election still months away, the impact of Kennedy’s candidacy remains uncertain. Democrats are working to ensure that Kennedy’s bid does not disrupt their chances of victory in November.
