POLITICS
Who would RFK Jr. endorse if he dropped out of the presidential race?
With his campaign grinding to a halt, RFK Jr. has been making overtures to both campaigns without so much of a reply.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential campaign is facing significant challenges, leading to speculation about whether he might drop out and whom he might support if he does.
Kennedy’s campaign has been losing momentum, with declining visibility and polling numbers. His campaign activities have diminished, with fewer public appearances and a reliance on virtual events and conferences organized by others.
Financial difficulties also plague the campaign, with reports indicating it is in debt. Additionally, Kennedy’s campaign has faced controversy, including allegations of past misconduct and legal battles over ballot access in New York.
Publicly, Kennedy has not indicated any specific plans to endorse another candidate. However, numerous reports have emerged over the last month indicting that he may have to.
Kennedy has made overtures to both parties, with little success
Kennedy has had direct conversations with former president Donald Trump about his rival’s campaign. The talks reportedly took place during a meeting in Milwaukee during the Republican National Congress, where they discussed potential cabinet-level positions for Kennedy or roles that would not require Senate approval.
“Yes, Mr. Kennedy met with President Trump today to discuss national unity, and he hopes to meet with leaders of the Democratic Party as well,” Kennedy campaign press secretary Stefanie Spear said in a statement. “And no he is not dropping out of the race. He is the only pro-environment, pro-choice, anti-war candidate who beats Donald Trump in head-to-head polls.”
That statement was made back on 15 July, and the polling data has now changed since President joe Biden retracted his bid to run again for president.
More recently, Kennedy attempted to arrange a meeting his replacement, Vice President Kamala Harris. Reportedly it was to discuss the possibility of Kennedy serving in Harris’s administration, should she win the presidential race, in exchange for his endorsement.
However, Kennedy put out a statement on X in which he said he has “no plans to endorse Kamala Harris for President,” and that does “have a plan to defeat her.”
Harris and her advisers have not responded to Kennedy’s request, and there appears to be no interest from Harris’s campaign in negotiating with him.