Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign says the independent presidential candidate is one step closer to his goal of appearing on the ballot in all 50 states.
The longtime environmental activist, scion of one of the nation’s most storied political dynasties and high-profile vaccine skeptic’s campaign announced on Monday that it had the necessary numbers to put “Bobby” on the ballot in North Carolina. It was announced that signatures had been collected..
According to campaign officials, more than 23,000 signatures have been collected through the new political party “We the People.” We the People was formed in January by supporters of Kennedy to get him on the ballot in six states, including the key battleground state of North Carolina.
With more than seven months until the presidential election, Utah is the only state where Kennedy’s name is confirmed to be on the ballot. His campaign says it has secured enough signatures to appear on the ballot in the battleground states of New Hampshire and Hawaii.
Republicans and Democrats panic in haste to define ‘spoiler’ candidate RFK JR
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gestures next to running mate Nicole Shanahan on March 26, 2024 in Oakland, California, USA.Reuters/Laure Andrillon (Reuters/Laure Andrillon)
The picture is even murkier in Nevada. Kennedy’s campaign reported collecting enough signatures, but state election officials said last week that the signatures could be invalidated because Kennedy did not have a running mate at the time they collected signatures.
His campaign fired back, claiming that Democrats were trying to keep him from voting in key battleground states in the West.
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President Kennedy announced Nicole Shanahan, a 38-year-old lawyer, technology entrepreneur and philanthropist, as his running mate Wednesday at an event in Oakland, California.
Mr. Shanahan’s nomination is likely to increase Mr. Kennedy’s drive to win votes, as he needs a running mate to qualify in multiple states.
The campaign said it had already collected signatures in 16 states before announcing its running mate. After Mr. Shanahan was added as Mr. Kennedy’s running mate, 19 additional states started petitions.
For candidates not affiliated with a major political party, winning a spot on the ballot is an expensive and time-consuming venture, but campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Speer said, “We have field teams, volunteers, We have a defense team, paid circulators, advocates, and supporters.” Strategists are ready to get the job done. ”
Kennedy has garnered double-digit approval ratings in some national polls and in some of the key battleground states in the general election, with more support than any other third-party candidate since Ross Perot more than 30 years ago. and independent White House candidates.
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President Biden’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee (which has recently brought in veteran communicators to target third-party and independent candidates) have said that Kennedy’s supporters will replace Donald Trump as president in November. He has repeatedly denounced it as a spoiler that could hand him an election victory.
“We are committed to the reelection of President Biden and Vice President Harris, and we will overcome every conceivable obstacle to achieving that goal,” Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis said in a conference call with reporters last week. It is important to take this seriously,” he said. “Let me be clear: Robert F. Kennedy is exactly that in this election. He is a spoiler.”
Many pundits and pollsters argue that Kennedy could pose similar problems to former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.
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And in recent days, the former president’s campaign has characterized Kennedy as a far-left politician whose populism on some issues appears similar to Trump’s.
President Trump last week accused Kennedy of being “by far the most radical left-wing candidate in the race.”
Trump campaign spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt also said on Monday’s “Fox & Friends” appearance that “polls show that RFK Jr. is hurting Joe Biden far more than he is hurting President Trump.” It shows,” he claimed.
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