The Republican National Committee (RNC) and former President Donald Trump’s campaign have launched scathing attacks on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after he announced his independent bid for the White House. Both the RNC and Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, criticized Kennedy’s liberal background and labeled his campaign as a “vanity project” seeking to capitalize on his family name.
Kennedy, a renowned environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist, had previously run as a Democrat. However, he insisted in a speech in Philadelphia that he was leaving both political parties behind. While national Democrats have remained silent on Kennedy’s independent bid, allies of both Biden and Trump have expressed concerns that he could be a spoiler against their candidate.
Kennedy’s decision to run as an independent introduces uncertainties into the 2024 race, which is expected to be a rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden. Kennedy’s primary bid had gained better favorability ratings among Republicans than Democrats, with even Trump expressing admiration for him just two weeks ago.
In his speech from Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, Kennedy emphasized his desire to be unaffiliated with any political party. He spoke about a “rising tide of discontent” in the country and his intention to make a “new declaration of independence” from corporations, the media, and the major political parties. Kennedy’s supporters, consisting of disillusioned Democrats, Trump voters seeking change, and political outsiders, believe that he can unify them.
While Kennedy’s campaign has garnered enthusiasm from his supporters, it faces significant challenges compared to the well-funded and experienced campaigns of Trump and Biden. Kennedy’s announcement was even delayed when he found that his speech had not been loaded onto the teleprompter.
Kennedy’s decision to run as an independent comes shortly after progressive activist Cornel West abandoned his Green Party bid in favor of an independent run. Meanwhile, centrist group No Labels is actively working to secure ballot access for an unnamed candidate.
Concerned about potential vote-splitting, Trump allies have begun circulating opposition research against Kennedy. The Republican National Committee published a fact sheet titled “Radical DEMOCRAT RFK Jr.,” highlighting instances where Kennedy supported liberal politicians or conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and past presidential elections. On the other hand, Biden’s allies have dismissed Kennedy’s campaign as unserious.
Four of Kennedy’s siblings released a joint statement denouncing his candidacy and expressing concern for the division it may cause. However, Tony Lyons, co-founder of the super PAC supporting Kennedy, dismissed their comments as part of a strategy to discredit him. Kennedy’s close relationships with far-right figures in recent years, as well as his anti-vaccine views, have garnered support from some Republicans.
Kennedy’s anti-vaccine organization, Children’s Health Defense, currently has a lawsuit pending against several news organizations, including The Associated Press. The lawsuit accuses these organizations of violating antitrust laws by taking action against misinformation. Kennedy is listed as one of the attorneys in the lawsuit.
The announcement of Kennedy’s independent bid for the presidency has introduced uncertainty into the 2024 race. With his unconventional campaign approach and potential to impact both Republican and Democratic candidates, Kennedy’s campaign will be closely watched in the coming months.