In a surprising twist to the 2024 presidential race, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has suspended his independent campaign and endorsed Donald Trump. This move has sent ripples through the political landscape, prompting analysts and voters alike to speculate on the potential consequences of this endorsement. Will it give Trump an advantage? If so, will it be enough to beat Harris in November?
Kennedy cited free speech, the war in Ukraine and what he called “a war on our children” as among the reasons he wishes to suspend his candidacy and try to remove his name from the ballot in battleground states. “These are the principal causes that persuaded me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent, and now to throw my support to President Trump,” Kennedy said. He has however, urged his supporters to continue to back him in states where the impact would not be great on the outcome of the election.
He has further stated that his internal polls have shown that his presence in the race would hurt Trump and help Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, something that given his endorsement of Trump, he now clearly does not wish to do.
Recent public polls however, suggest that his impact on either major-party candidate would in any case be negligible, especially as his support had waned greatly in the past few weeks.
However, numerous political pundits generally believe that Kennedy, a figure who has lately become more and more the subject of mockery and derision, has a following that appears to be more inclined towards Trump, especially after his departure from the race.
The impact of Kennedy’s endorsement may be felt more acutely in swing states, where even marginal shifts can tip the scales. Yet, even there experts remain skeptical about the magnitude of this effect. The endorsement also carries a risk for Trump, given the growing negative perceptions of Kennedy among voters. Aligning with a controversial figure who has increasingly become a meme for having a worm-eaten brain may not be an advantage.
Nevertheless, the timing of Kennedy’s exit and endorsement—just 74 days before Election Day—adds another layer of complexity to the electoral calculus. With the race entering its final stretch, campaigns are vying for every vote, and Kennedy’s decision could potentially disrupt the strategies of both major parties.
Kennedy’s move is also being looked at with suspicion, as according to numerous sources such as CBS News and Politico, he has been shopping around his allegiance in exchange for a cabinet position.
“[He] approached the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris last week to discuss the possibility of serving in her administration if she were to win the presidential race in November,” wrote CBS News.
When Harris turned him down, he then approached the Trump campaign and reportedly, he is angling for a position as Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare according to NBC News and other sources.
Yesterday Trump stated, “If he endorsed me. I would be honored by it. I would be very honored by it.” Trump continued, “He really has his heart in the right place. He is a respected person. Women love some of his policies, and I guess some people don’t like some of his policies.” Today, when asked about the endorsement, Trump first offered a vague reply, “we’ll see, we’re going to have to work it out.” Then he added that Kennedy “is a well respected person, he is a beloved person in some ways” and quickly pivoted to criticizing the Democratic party for having treated Kennedy badly.
