Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura (I) said he has a chance to beat both President Biden and former President Trump in a virtual matchup Thursday.
“If we have the right to vote in all 50 states and allow debate, we will be able to beat these two major party candidates,” Ventura said on CNN’s “Erin Burnett Outfront.”
Burnett and Ventura were discussing independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s candidacy on her show. Kennedy is seen by supporters of Biden and Trump as a “spoiler” candidate who could tilt the race toward one of the leading candidates, and is currently ranked in the Hill/Decision Desk national polling average. The approval rate is 6.9%. According to average polls, Trump and Biden are far behind, with approval ratings at 42.4% and 41.6%, respectively.
Ventura also pushed back against the idea of a “spoiler,” saying during an appearance on CNN that “third parties are not ‘spoilers.'”
“When you go to the polls and fulfill your civic duty, you are voting for the candidate and person you want to be president of the United States, regardless of party,” Ventura said. “If you go and vote for the person you want to be president, you have fulfilled your duty as a citizen.”
“How dare you call this a ‘spoiler’ when you don’t vote Democrat or Republican?” Ventura continued.
Kennedy was previously reported to be considering Ventura as his running mate, but ultimately chose lawyer Nicole Shanahan. He said at the event announcing Shanahan as her nominee that she is a daughter of immigrants who “overcame every difficult obstacle and went on to achieve the highest level of the American Dream.”
“That’s why I’m so proud to introduce you to Nicole Shanahan, the Vice President-elect of the United States, my fellow lawyer, brilliant scientist and engineer, and the mother of a brave warrior. “President Kennedy said.
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