Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. believes he has a path to the White House by aiming for 33% of the vote in the upcoming election, rather than the traditional 50%. He views himself as a viable candidate in a three-way race with Biden and Trump, as well as a five-way race when considering other third-party candidates like Dr. Cornel West and Dr. Jill Stein. Kennedy claims to be close to this 33% goal in many states, particularly among young voters. Recent public polls show him polling better than any third-party candidate since Ross Perot in the 1990s, especially among voters under 35. However, he still trails Trump and Biden overall, albeit pulling significant support from them in the younger demographic.
Kennedy’s appeal to young voters has raised concerns in the Biden camp, with some worried about his potential to siphon votes away from the current president, both among young voters and Latinos. Kennedy’s hard-edge economic populist message seems to resonate with these groups, who may be dissatisfied with the political and economic status quo. Ben Tulchin, a former Bernie Sanders pollster, expressed concern over Biden’s re-election chances due to Kennedy’s appeal in these demographics. To counter this threat, the Democratic National Committee has launched efforts to prevent third-party candidates like Kennedy from impacting the election, including legal challenges and opposition research.
On the other side, the Trump campaign has also attacked Kennedy, calling him a “wasted protest vote” and labeling him as a “radical f—–g Kennedy” on a website targeting him as a friend of left-wing extremists. Trump has denounced Kennedy as a spoiler candidate, aiming to divide the opposition to his own campaign. Additionally, Biden appeared with six members of Kennedy’s own family as they publicly endorsed the current president over their relative, highlighting the DNC’s efforts to silence Kennedy’s potential impact on the election. Both campaigns have accused Kennedy of being a “plant” meant to help the other side, a claim Kennedy has vehemently denied.
Despite facing pressure from both major parties, Kennedy remains confident in his campaign and his ability to win a significant portion of the vote in the upcoming election. He sees a real opportunity to appeal to younger voters and push for the changes he believes are necessary in American politics and society. Kennedy’s ability to attract support from traditionally underrepresented demographics has sparked concern in both the Biden and Trump camps, leading to efforts to undermine his candidacy. However, Kennedy remains determined to continue his campaign and fight for his vision for the country, despite the challenges he faces from the major party campaigns.
