RFK Jr. Raises Controversy with 2024 Presidential Campaign Statements

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently announced his decision to withdraw his name from ballots in key swing states, a move aimed at diminishing Vice President Kamala Harris’s chances in the presidential race this coming November.

On Friday, Kennedy halted his independent presidential campaign and extended his support to former President Donald Trump, claiming that the Democratic Party fabricated the race to undermine his candidacy and disenfranchise the voters, which led to his request to be removed from the Pennsylvania ballots.

During an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” host Shannon Bream questioned Kennedy regarding his endorsement of Trump. The former candidate expressed his plan to withdraw from the ballots in states that Harris critically needs to win in order to reach 270 electoral votes this November.

Below is a transcript of the key exchanges, sourced from Grabien:

BREAM: Have you discussed a potential cabinet position or any role in a Trump administration in return for your endorsement?

KENNEDY: No, there are no commitments. However, I met with President Trump, along with his family and close advisors, and we made a general commitment to work collaboratively.

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BREAM: Regarding the swing state ballots, are you planning to remain on some ballots while withdrawing from others to encourage your supporters to back Trump? Did you discuss which states you’ll withdraw from?

KENNEDY: Yes, we know which states are involved. There are actually about ten swing states where my participation in the race would have benefitted Vice President Harris and negatively impacted President Trump. I will withdraw from the ballot in those states, while remaining on ballots in approximately 30 states. I’m encouraging people to support my candidacy in those locations, particularly in states where the votes won’t significantly alter the race outcome, like solid red or blue states. In the states where I could act as a spoiler, I will gracefully exit. There are around ten such states.

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A notable pollster has indicated that Kennedy’s withdrawal from the race and his endorsement of Trump presents a significant setback for Harris.

Despite polling around 5 percent nationally, Kennedy’s support could play a crucial role in a close contest between the major candidates, as highlighted by the New York Post.

“Much of Kennedy’s left-leaning following had already shifted towards Harris,” commented Dave Wasserman, senior editor and elections analyst at Cook Political Report, in an interview with The Post. “This shift could provide a notable advantage for Trump.”

“In our August survey of battleground states, we noticed a minor fraction stemming from Kennedy’s endorsement,” he elaborated. “Forty-six percent of Kennedy’s supporters indicated they would back Trump in a two-way contest, while only 26 percent leaned towards Harris, illustrating Kennedy’s support plummet from 8 percent to 5 percent nationwide.”

“Campaigns are prepared to invest enormous sums to sway even the slimmest of margins, especially given the narrow competition witnessed in battleground states during the 2020 election, like Arizona and Georgia,” he added.

“Kennedy’s endorsement likely won’t convert all of his backers to Trump,” he cautioned. “Given the current volatility in the political landscape, this situation could remain unpredictable through the election cycle.”

Chris Lane, a pollster for Cygnal, stated that “among swing voters, 16% indicated their intention to support Kennedy.”

“In razor-thin margins characterizing battleground states, that segment could indeed be pivotal,” he continued. “If Kennedy actively persuades his supporters to back Trump, it could fundamentally reshape the electoral landscape, especially in critical swing states.”

“These 16% lean more towards center-right perspectives and would naturally increase Trump’s support,” he remarked. “Our data indicates that these swing voters identify as conservatives over liberals by a ratio of four to one.”

Furthermore, even Frank Luntz, a reputable pollster often critical of Trump, acknowledged that Kennedy’s endorsement could sway the election results.

“It is likely to represent about a 1% gain for Trump, which could be immensely significant if realized in swing states. The initial appeal of Kennedy was largely derived from attracting votes away from Joe Biden. Now, with Biden absent from the race and Harris at the forefront, Kennedy’s backing has significantly dwindled