Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made a significant announcement on Monday, revealing his decision to withdraw from the race for the Democratic U.S. presidential nomination in favor of running as an independent candidate. This move has the potential to disrupt a closely contested election by diverting votes away from the leading candidates.
The 2024 presidential race is most likely to feature a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, making a third-party candidate a potential spoiler for the Democrats, particularly in crucial swing states.
Kennedy, a 69-year-old former environmental lawyer with a history of Democratic affiliation, used his declaration to emphasize his independence from all political parties and his commitment to combating corruption.
While acknowledging the emotional weight of parting ways with the Democratic Party, Kennedy explained that his decision was driven by his pursuit of change and integrity in politics.
Kennedy’s candidacy has garnered more favor among Republican circles than within the Democratic camp, as indicated by opinion polls, where he lags significantly behind Biden with an average of less than 15 percent, making it a 47-point gap.
Kennedy’s controversial stance on issues, coupled with his association with right-wing conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones and Michael Flynn, has sparked criticism. His views include skepticism about the causes of AIDS, claims that wifi leads to cancer, and assertions that antidepressants are responsible for school shootings.
Kennedy’s comments in July, suggesting that Covid-19 was ethnically targeted, further fueled controversy. While some Biden supporters view Cornel West, a liberal academic, as a more significant threat than Kennedy, four of Kennedy’s siblings have publicly criticized his decision, calling it “dangerous” and “deeply saddening.”
Republicans have labeled Kennedy as a “Democrat in Independent’s clothing,” characterizing him as an elitist liberal who won’t deceive voters.