US POLITICS
Who is Rory Kennedy and why is she concerned about her brother’s presidential candidacy?
RFK Jr. initially planned to challenge Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination but could harm the incumbent president as an independent, his sister believes.
In October last year, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. officially announced he would be running as an independent in the 2024 United States presidential election, becoming the fifth member of his family to do so. However, “concerned” sibling Rory Kennedy firmly believes her brother may not have made the wisest of moves.
RFK Jr., the nephew of late US president John F. Kennedy and the son of former US attorney general and senator Robert F. Kennedy, initially filed a statement of candidacy to challenge incumbent President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination, which was seen as something of a long shot from the beginning.
After ultimately opting to run as an independent, his chances of success are seen as being equally slim, although sister Rory Kennedy fears her sibling’s candidacy could nevertheless have a big impact on election results.
What did Rory Kennedy say about RFK Jr., Biden and Trump?
Speaking to Good Morning America on ABC, Rory, a 55-year-old documentary filmmaker, said she is among many who are concerned RFK Jr.’s presidential bid could take enough votes away from Biden to see Republican predecessor Donald Trump re-elected in November, which polls have suggested may happen.
“My biggest concern with Bobby’s run is that he is going to take votes away from Biden, and I think this election is going to come down to a handful of votes in a handful of states. And I am concerned that voting for Bobby is going to take votes away from Biden and lead to a Trump election. And I’m very concerned what that will do to our country and to the world over the ensuing four years.”
Kennedy siblings believe RFK Jr.’s candidacy “perilous for the United States”
Environmental lawyer Kennedy Jr. is a leading vaccine skeptic and advocate of public health conspiracy theories, which means he has never had the support of his.
Siblings Rory, Joe Kennedy III and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who published a statement in October criticising his decision to run for president.
“Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment. Today’s announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country.”