Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s shift from a Democratic primary contender to an Independent presidential candidate has caused a notable change in how right-wing media covers his campaign. Previously seen as a potential spoiler for President Joe Biden, Kennedy now appears to be pulling votes from both Biden and former President Donald Trump, challenging traditional political alignments and significant amounts of polling data.
Coverage of Kennedy by prominent conservative outlets like Fox News has significantly decreased since his announcement as an Independent. For instance, mentions of Kennedy on Fox News roughly halved from the time he declared his independent run in October through February 2024. This decline in attention reflects a strategic withdrawal on the part of Fox, possibly due to concerns that amplifying Kennedy’s campaign might inadvertently harm Trump’s electoral chances by splitting the conservative vote.
The transformation in the conservative media’s stance towards Kennedy is stark. Figures like Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a staunch defender of Donald Trump, who once praised Kennedy, now offer far more critical takes, they also are more likely to highlight Kennedy’s liberal positions. Kirk’s comments, “I like RFK as a person, and I respect him, but he’s also a liberal Democrat at heart,”. This is perhaps an attempt to distance any potential Trump voter from the option of third-party voting, their goal is to ensure RFK remains as unappealing to the right as possible.
Kennedy’s campaign, on the other hand, has leveraged these shifts in coverage, focusing on new media channels to engage with voters directly, especially younger demographics. With a strong presence on platforms like TikTok and frequent appearances on podcasts, Kennedy is bypassing traditional media gatekeepers to build his base.
@teamkennedy2024 Stitch with @🩶 #rfkjr #kennedy24 #uspolitics ♬ original sound – Robert F. Kennedy Jr
His criticisms of Biden, particularly around free speech and censorship, resonate with a segment of voters disillusioned with both major parties. Despite the Democratic National Committee labeling him a “spoiler candidate,” Kennedy’s unique position in the race is drawing attention to his platform, which includes controversial stances like vaccine skepticism and election denialism.
As Kennedy continues to attract attention from across the political spectrum, the impact of his independent bid remains a key point of speculation. With conservative media scaling back its coverage and Kennedy redirecting his outreach efforts, the 2024 presidential race is shaping up to be an even more unpredictable contest.
