Democrats and Republicans alike sought to define Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential candidacy and attribute his views to other ideological dimensions before he announced himself to the 2024 electorate. I’m really excited about it.
“The only thing they know is that he’s Robert Kennedy’s son,” says Alan Lichtman, a historian and distinguished professor of history at American University.
Because Kennedy is focused on gaining access to the ballot, his campaign trip will be similar to that of former Presidents Trump and Biden, who primarily campaign in key battleground states. seems to be quite different.
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Former President Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and President Joe Biden. (Getty Images)
Despite these advantages, both parties still seek to undermine Kennedy’s outside efforts.
Trump lashed out at Kennedy on Truth Social on Wednesday, calling him “the most radical left-wing candidate so far in the race.”
The Democratic National Committee claimed that Kennedy is a “horse to take on Trump” in the 2024 election.
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Earlier this month, the DNC created a staff dedicated to dealing with third-party competitors. Spokesman Matt Corridoni said the decision to run for president as an outsider was born out of not taking anything for granted.
The DNC is taking steps to prevent third-party challenges. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin)
“I think a lot of his support is just based on the name and not an understanding of what RFK Jr. actually stands for,” Lichtman argued, calling him ” “A very ambiguous person.”
One reason for his enigmatic status, said Kyle Kondik, editor-in-chief of Sabbat’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, is that “he holds opinions that can be attributed to both the left and the right. It looks like he has it legitimately.”
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For Russell Barney, a top advisor on Ross Perot’s famous 1992 independent presidential campaign, these efforts on both sides were fueled by the parties’ aversion to competition.
Bernie argued that if voters had chosen to support Kennedy on Election Day, many “would not have voted for Biden anyway.”
Perot was one of the most successful independent candidates in modern history. (Reuters)
According to Democratic strategist Kaivan Shroff, it’s not difficult for Democrats to “portray him as a Disney villain, the black sheep of a storied American family. He’s waging a fierce vendetta against the Democratic Party his family built.” He is a person who holds my heart.”
Republican strategists estimate it poses a far greater threat to Mr. Biden and one that will be difficult to deal with. Republican strategist Zach Roday said the president’s “fragile” support, combined with what Kennedy’s name has contributed to the Democratic legacy, suggests that any challenge for Biden “will require significant funding and smart planning.” It will become.”
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Charlie Kirk, founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, added: “If I were in the Biden campaign right now, I would be setting off five alarm bells.”
Some have suggested that the threat posed by President Kennedy is “asymmetric.”
Kevin Madden, a former senior adviser to Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah during the 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, said, “There are many people in this campaign who are dissatisfied with both Trump and Biden.” It is expected that there will be a large number of ‘double haters.’
Kennedy is currently working to gain access to the ballot in each state. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Kennedy press secretary Stephanie Speer claimed that the attacks from both sides were driven by a “true inability” to understand “candidates who do not fit into traditional political categories.”
“Our ticket represents a large majority that has broken away from the left-right paradigm,” she said of Kennedy and running mate Nicole Shanahan.
Although the campaign expressed confidence in the coalition government, Lichtman said that historically on election day “the partisans come back.”
This, he explained, is the result of “wasted vote syndrome.” “You know, ‘Ross Perot, we love you, but you can’t win, so I’m not going to vote for you.'”
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Varney agreed that this syndrome often causes election day turnout for independent candidates to drop by about 50% compared to previous polling heights. Exploiting the idea of wasted votes is a highly effective strategy to undermine an independent bid, according to a former Perot adviser.
“There’s not much evidence that third-party candidates play that role,” said Jacob Neiheisel, an associate professor of political science at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He added that third-party voters are likely to refrain from voting if their candidate is not an option.
Kennedy initially ran in the Democratic primary, then became an independent. (John Nasion/Getty Images)
Bernard Tamas, an associate professor of political science at Valdosta State University and author of “The End and Rebirth of America’s Third Party,” said President Kennedy’s message was inconsistent and disorganized and did not convey a message to voters on Election Day. The challenge is to deliver. “The issues he supports may excite some voters early on,” he explained, but may be put on the back burner later.
Lichtman said the image Kennedy projects to voters will ultimately depend on which side recruits the most effective communicators. And for now, Biden appears to have the advantage, with figures like former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama on his side.
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In a statement, Trump’s press secretary, Stephen Chan, echoed Trump’s claims about Kennedy, calling him a “radical leftist.”
The Biden campaign did not comment, instead referring Fox News Digital to the DNC’s third-party operations.
Get the latest on the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more with Fox News Digital’s Election Hub.
