Democrats are in panic mode as they try to save President Biden’s re-election hopes from the threat of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign. Kennedy announced tech entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan as his vice presidential running mate, causing concern among Democrats. Rep. Robert Garcia, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Gov. Austin Davis, and Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow all expressed worries that Kennedy would ruin Biden’s chances of being re-elected and referred to him as a “spoiler” in the election. They also criticized Kennedy for his past skepticism towards vaccines and accused him of being supported by Trump donors.
Garcia called Kennedy a “tin foil hat conspiracy theorist” and accused him of being a danger to the campaign. Davis suggested that Kennedy’s candidacy was financed by Trump donors and aimed at helping Trump win again. The focus on Kennedy’s past vaccine rhetoric and his alleged connection to Trump supporters was emphasized during the call. McMorrow expressed concerns that Kennedy, like Jill Stein in 2016, could spoil a key swing state like Michigan for Biden and allow Trump to win. The DNC has launched an effort to silence the threat from third-party candidates, particularly Kennedy, with legal challenges and opposition research.
Democrat strategist Lis Smith criticized Kennedy as a “spoiler” and accused Shanahan of buying her inclusion on the ticket by donating millions to boost Kennedy before becoming his running mate. The Trump-aligned super PAC Make America Great Again, Inc. labeled Kennedy as a far-left radical who supports reparations, the Green New Deal, and banning fracking. Shanahan was also targeted for her previous support of Biden in the 2020 election before switching to Kennedy in this cycle. Recent polls suggest that Kennedy, Stein, and independent candidate Dr. Cornel West could pull significant support from both Biden and Trump, potentially impacting the outcome of the election.
Kennedy’s support in a three-way race against Biden and Trump was projected at 15%, with Trump holding a 4-point lead in the latest RealClearPolitics average. In a five-way race including West and Stein, Kennedy’s support dropped to 11%, with Trump still ahead of Biden by 2 points. The concern among Democrats is that Kennedy’s campaign could split the votes and make it easier for Trump to win re-election. The focus on Kennedy’s controversial past positions on vaccines, ties to Trump donors, and impact on swing states like Michigan is driving efforts to discredit him and protect Biden’s chances in the upcoming election.
