As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to gain support in public polls and secure access to ballots in various states for his independent presidential bid, his campaign is causing concern for former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump has escalated his attacks on Kennedy, accusing him of being a “Democrat plant” who will pull votes away from his campaign to benefit President Joe Biden. Recent polls indicate that Kennedy could impact Trump’s support as much as Biden’s, prompting Republicans to take notice and try to prevent Kennedy from drawing votes away from Trump.
While Trump’s team initially believed Biden had more to lose from the presence of independent candidates like Kennedy, recent state polls and media attention have shifted their perception. Although they still view Kennedy as likely hurting Biden more, they acknowledge his potential impact on Trump’s candidacy varies by state. Despite not considering Kennedy a serious threat, they are increasing attacks against him to discourage current or potential Trump supporters from voting for the independent candidate, particularly in critical battleground states like Pennsylvania.
There are concerns within Trump’s inner circle about Kennedy qualifying for presidential debates and gaining momentum in the polls. They have devised a strategy to define Kennedy as a liberal masquerading as a conservative, highlighting his progressive policies on issues like climate change and abortion. While Trump himself has offered mixed messages about Kennedy, at times even praising him, he has recently taken a more aggressive approach in his attacks, calling Kennedy a “Radical Left Lunatic” and questioning his positions on vaccines and environmental policy.
Despite Trump’s increasing attacks, Kennedy’s campaign has not yet provided a response to the escalating criticism. Trump’s team remains committed to their strategy of portraying Kennedy as a far-left Democrat who does not align with conservative values, even as Trump occasionally offers mild praise for Kennedy. As the campaign progresses, Trump is focusing on separating Kennedy the person from Kennedy the politician and continuing to emphasize his own platform and policies to maintain voter support.
As the race continues to unfold, Trump’s team is closely monitoring Kennedy’s progress and how his candidacy may impact the election. They are working to counter Kennedy’s message and prevent him from garnering significant support from conservative or conservative-leaning voters. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Kennedy’s impact on the race, Trump’s team is committed to undermining his candidacy and reinforcing Trump’s own strengths and policies to voters. Overall, the campaign is intensifying as Kennedy gains traction, with Trump ramping up his attacks in an effort to diminish Kennedy’s influence on the election.
