A planned speech by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. finalized his decision to withdraw from the presidential ballot in Arizona to endorse former President Donald Trump.
Court documents filed in Pennsylvania on Friday morning also requested that he be removed from the ballot in that state as well. However, during the press conference, RFK says that he is “suspending” his campaign activity, not stopping entirely.
Kennedy’s Speech
The initial intent of the speech in Arizona on Friday was meant to discuss “the present historical moment and his path forward,” with relation to his Independent presidential campaign.
During his speech, the Independent shared that he has been disappointed with Kamala Harris’s campaign as well as the previous Democratic presidency. He touched on his proud moments of fighting for free speech on social media and his denial of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Possible Trump Endorsement
Trump’s campaign team will hold a rally in nearby Glendale later in the day on Friday.
It has already been teased that the former president will be joined by a “special guest,” although neither campaign has responded to messages about if Kennedy is the guest. However, there has been some strong speculation that RFK has dropped out specifically to boost Trump’s polling numbers.
Will the Change Boost Republican Numbers?
The late development of RFK’s campaign seems to have come at the exact moment when former President Trump slipped behind Democratic candidate Harris in the polls.
It’s also worth nothing that so far, RFK has only decided to pull his name from the ticket in notable battleground states. A large number of Independent voters often swing Republican when faced with the traditional two options. Now, it’s assumed that Trump will see a small, but significant, boost in his polling numbers.
Previous Trump-Kennedy Feud
The official filing in Pennsylvania claims that “as a result of today’s endorsement of Donald Trump,” RFK is requesting an immediate dismissal of his campaign’s nomination papers so that his name would not appear on the Pennsylvania ballot.
Despite early fighting between the two candidates, with RFK calling out Trump for his lies and Trump criticizing Kennedy as “the most radical left candidate in the race,” the two have ramped up their compliments to each other in recent weeks. Ironically, both campaigns have previously accused the other of weaponizing the legal system for their own benefit.
A Kennedy Bought
Some would find it surprising to find that one of the families most synonymously attached to the Democratic party is working with the Republican nominee.
In a now-deleted post, Kennedy’s son showed a video of a phone call between Kennedy and Trump where the former president appears to talk RFK into siding with him.
Joining Forces With Republicans
On Tuesday, Trump told CNN that he would “love” to get the endorsement from Kennedy, who he called a “brilliant guy.” He also hinted at a possible role in the Trump cabinet if Kennedy drops out and endorses him.
Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy’s running mate, also spoke openly about the topic on a podcast, suggesting that the campaign might “walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump.” She also suggested that Kennedy should join Trump’s administration as a secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Many Kennedy Fans Will Follow His Endorsement
Case Westerman, a Chandler, Arizona, resident, said that he plans on voting for Kennedy no matter what but would also follow his endorsement if he did drop out.
Westerman, who voted for Trump in the previous two elections, said, “My decision would really be based on who he thinks is best suited to run this country.”
Current Polling Numbers
As it stands, Kennedy is polling in the low single digits. However, if he were to drop out and send his supporters in the direction of Trump, it could have big effects on the coming election.
Right now, Kamala Harris is polling ahead at around 47.3% to Trumo’s 43.6%. Kennedy regularly hovers between 4-5%. The difference could easily be big enough to sway the entire election.
Battleground States Are Close
Important battleground states with big electoral college numbers are polling much tighter.
In Arizona, Harris has a mere +1.4 lead over Trump, while Kennedy holds a strong 5.1% of the polling numbers. These tight numbers suggest that the change of names on the ballot will have big implications in November.
Kennedy Voters Favor Trump Over Harris
Although Kennedy first ran on the Democratic bill for president, he soon switched over to the Independent roll where he absorbed a certain group of voters who wanted a third option.
Republicans with a positive view of Kennedy are significantly more likely to favor Trump (52%) over Harris (37%).
Harris is Flying High After DNC
As day four of the DNC has just concluded with a strong speech by Harris, Kennedy’s exit might only have a small impact.
After the convention, Harris and Walz outlined several new policy decisions and stoked the excitement for a possible groundbreaking presidential ticket.
