Democrats are increasing their criticism of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. following his announcement of Nicole Shanahan as his choice for vice president on Tuesday. They argue that this pairing will be advantageous to former President Trump.
Kennedy’s supporters assert that choosing Shanahan, a philanthropist and patent attorney, will create excitement for the campaign as they head into the general election. Additionally, it will fulfill a crucial requirement in several states that mandate Independents to have a running mate in order to be eligible for their ballots.
However, several prominent Democrats within the party are denouncing Kennedy as a “spoiler” who is being backed by Republican funds and promoting conspiracy theories. They swiftly condemned his presidential campaign soon after he announced his running mate in Oakland, California.
“I find his campaign personally offensive and utterly repugnant,” expressed Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) during a call organized by the Democratic National Committee (DNC). “He should feel ashamed of himself and immediately withdraw from the presidential race.”
During the 2024 presidential cycle, Democrats have largely ignored Kennedy, believing that he had little chance of winning the White House. Despite Biden’s precarious poll numbers as an incumbent, those in his circle have refrained from targeting Kennedy in order to concentrate their efforts on Trump.
The initial indifference towards Kennedy has transformed into distress and fury in recent weeks. With the primaries of both parties indicating a potential Biden-Trump rematch, Democrats have begun scrutinizing the third-party candidate who could potentially disrupt the outcome in November, casting uncertainty and potentially unfavorable consequences for their own party.
In recent weeks, the DNC has been focused on undermining Kennedy’s campaign and portraying him as a potential asset for Trump’s reelection, all in an effort to secure a second victory for Biden. Shortly after Kennedy announced his selection of Shanahan, the DNC held a conference call with elected Democrats from swing states to caution them about the potential implications of Kennedy’s campaign on Biden’s chances of defeating Trump for a second time.
According to Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, he describes the individual as a “spoiler” who was brought into the race by Donald Trump’s top supporters.
According to him, Pennsylvania does not offer a viable path for him to secure victory.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. engages with voters during a campaign event in Brooklyn, New York City on August 30, 2023.
Democrats have frequently attempted to link Kennedy’s campaign to the Trump-aligned GOP. Kennedy himself aligns with the MAGA movement on certain issues, particularly vaccines and his criticism of conventional medicine and the scientific community.
Just before announcing Shanahan, a super PAC supporting Biden unveiled a website named rfkjrfacts. On this site, you can find merged images of Kennedy and Trump, along with notable figures from the former president’s circle, including right-wing ally Steve Bannon.
According to the text on the landing page, RFK Jr., a candidate supported by MAGA and funded by billionaires, is aiming to assist in the re-election of Donald Trump. The platform of RFK Jr. is considered highly perilous as it promotes conspiracy theories that further divide our nation. Additionally, RFK Jr. has accumulated substantial wealth by opposing vaccines and has a troubling record of making anti-Black, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-Semitic remarks.
Clear Choice, a super PAC, has recently unveiled a new advertisement emphasizing Kennedy’s connections to Trumpism. The ad features video clips of Kennedy expressing his pride in Trump’s favorable opinion of him.
According to a statement from Matt Bennett, the executive vice president for public affairs of the Democratic group Third Way, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Nicole Shanahan will only have the opportunity to visit the Oval Office if Trump wins the election and invites them in to express their gratitude.
As the news spread about Kennedy’s plan to announce his running mate on March 26, supporters of Biden started expressing concerns publicly about how this decision might potentially weaken the president’s chances on Election Day. They emphasized the impact of a close race, where even a few thousand votes in key states can make a significant difference. Democrats have experienced the challenges posed by third-party candidates like Jill Stein of the Green Party in the previous election.
According to Chris Devine, co-author of the book “Do Running Mates Matter?: The Influence of Vice Presidential Candidates in Presidential Elections” and an expert in third-party campaigns, the selection of Shanahan, who is relatively unknown, does not provide a favorable outlook for the campaign.
According to Devine, this was a chance for him to showcase his ability to assemble a skilled and diverse team, but he has failed to do so.
Critics from the pro-Trump faction have expressed their disapproval of Kennedy, fearing that his candidacy as an Independent may divert support away from the former president.
According to a statement from Alex Pfeiffer, a spokesperson for the pro-Trump super PAC Make America Great Again Inc., Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for his support of reparations, backing the Green New Deal, and advocating for a ban on fracking, has chosen a Biden donor with leftist views as his running mate.
Criticism is pouring in from both Biden and Trump supporters, as Kennedy has managed to garner significant support from Independents. His campaign has gained attention, with polling numbers consistently in the low to mid-double digits. This has attracted a second look from voters who are proving to be a challenge for Biden, including Independents, young voters, and voters of color.
Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., waved on stage with Nicole Shanahan after announcing her as his running mate during a campaign event in Oakland, Calif., on March 26, 2024.
Kennedy’s campaign has garnered significant attention in several battleground states, with enough signatures collected to compete in New Hampshire, Utah, and Hawaii. Moreover, a pro-Kennedy super PAC called American Values has indicated that they have secured enough supporters in Michigan, Georgia, South Carolina, and Arizona for Kennedy to enter the race in those states as well. A recent poll conducted by NBC News showed that 34 percent of registered voters expressed their openness to potentially supporting Kennedy in this election cycle.
During his launch event, Kennedy referred to Shanahan, 38, as a “brilliant scientist” and a “fierce warrior mom”. Shanahan’s addition to the team allows Kennedy to begin the lengthy process of collecting signatures, which is required in various states for the ticket to be considered valid.
Kennedy is currently facing a significant obstacle in the form of financial constraints. Running a presidential campaign of such magnitude requires substantial funding, and this is even more challenging for an Independent candidate like Kennedy, who must also go through the additional step of petitioning for names. However, those close to Kennedy recognize this challenge, and there is a sense of optimism among his supporters that Shanahan’s involvement could provide a much-needed injection of funds, ultimately enabling Kennedy to appear on more ballots.
Kennedy explained that he selected Shanahan because of her exceptional talent in recognizing government abuses. He further praised her tenacity and resilience, emphasizing how she overcame numerous challenges to achieve the American dream.
