RFK Jr. Suspends Campaign, Endorses Donald Trump For President
During a highly anticipated news conference, Robert Kennedy Jr. suspended his campaign and endorsed former president Donald Trump.
Kennedy, who ran his presidential race as an independent, said he is withdrawing his name from the ballot in 10 battleground states.
Recent polls showed Kennedy around 5-10%, with a YouGov poll reading 5% and a Quinnipiac poll showing 10%.
Political analysts say that the support Kennedy was receiving came mostly from voters that would support Trump if RFK Jr. was not in the race.
Tony Fabrizio, a Trump campaign pollster, released a memo following Kennedy’s withdrawal indicating that his departure from the race will result in a major boost for Trump’s support.
“With the exit of RFK Jr. from the race and his endorsement of President Trump, there will undoubtedly be a great deal of speculation of what it means and who it will help. I’ve seen the Harris folks already trying to spin that it won’t impact the race.” Said Fabrizio in his newly issued memorandum.
“The data speaks for itself, in every single state RFK Jr.’s vote breaks for President Trump.”
Kennedy’s announcement came days after his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, said in a podcast interview that the campaign was entertaining the idea of withdrawing in exchange for a role in a second Trump administration.
"There's two options that we're looking at," Shanahan said. "One is staying in, forming that new party, but we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and Walz presidency, because we draw votes from Trump or we draw somehow more votes from Trump. Or, we walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump.”
Shanahan indicated that RFK Jr. was eyeing a role as secretary of the Department of Health and Human services saying that, “I think that Bobby (Kennedy) in a role like that would be excellent, I fully support it.”
Trump commented on RFK Jr.’s withdraw, calling it a “great honor” and saying Kennedy is a respected person.
“Not everybody agrees with everything he says, but that’s true with everybody.” Said Trump.
Trump told CNN on Tuesday that he would be open to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. playing a role in his administration if Kennedy dropped out of the race and endorsed him.
In Kennedy’s exiting remarks, he stated that he no longer sees a viable path to victory.
"In my heart, I no longer believe that I have a realistic path to electoral victory," Kennedy said. "I cannot in good conscience ask my staff and volunteers to keep working their long hours or ask my donors to keep giving when I cannot honestly tell them that I have a real path to the White House."
Kennedy said at his news conference in Phoenix that three issues encouraged him to leave the Democrat party and endorse former president Donald Trump: free speech, the war in Ukraine, and the war on our children.