The Kennedy family endorsement of President Biden was a significant move in response to the rising concern in the Biden camp regarding Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent White House bid. Members of the Kennedy family, including most of Mr. Kennedy’s siblings, announced their support for Mr. Biden. The Biden campaign aggressively worked to discredit Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Democratic credentials due to his controversial views on Covid vaccines and conspiracy theories about his father’s assassination.
The Biden campaign joined efforts to define Mr. Kennedy beyond his family name and promoted the Kennedys’ endorsement of the president. Concerns grew about Mr. Kennedy’s attacks on the president and his efforts to win ballot lines in key battleground states. Officials announced he had secured a spot as a member of a little-known third party in Michigan. Kerry Kennedy, one of Mr. Kennedy’s siblings, stood next to Mr. Biden at a campaign event in Philadelphia, emphasizing the family’s support for the president.
The Kennedy family’s endorsement of Mr. Biden was met with mixed reactions from Mr. Kennedy, who chose not to engage with his family’s rejection of his candidacy. While Mr. Biden expressed gratitude for the Kennedys’ support, he acknowledged the influence that President John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy had on his political career. Polling data showed increasing disapproval of Mr. Kennedy among voters, with a rise in unfavorable views as he gained more media exposure.
Although the Kennedy family’s influence in American politics has waned, it still holds potential sway among voters in battleground states like Pennsylvania. The Biden campaign aimed to paint Mr. Kennedy as more aligned with Mr. Trump than with the Kennedy legacy, seeking to dissuade Democratic voters from supporting him. Democrats hope that Mr. Kennedy’s candidacy will draw support mainly from voters who might have otherwise backed Mr. Trump, weakening the Republican rival’s prospects.
Mr. Trump’s campaign has intensified attacks on Mr. Kennedy, trying to depict him as part of the “radical left.” There were even suggestions that Mr. Trump was considering choosing Mr. Kennedy as his running mate, although Mr. Kennedy stated he would not accept such an offer. The contrast between Mr. Biden campaigning in Pennsylvania and Mr. Trump appearing in court in New York highlighted a potential advantage for the Biden campaign.
The events surrounding the Kennedy family’s endorsement of President Biden underscored the complexities of the 2024 presidential race, with the potential impact of independent candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the political landscape. As the campaign intensifies, both major candidates are navigating the challenges posed by third-party contenders and seeking to strengthen their positions in key battleground states.
