Rory Kennedy, sister of independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., expressed concerns during a CNN interview on Monday that her brother’s campaign could ruin President Joe Biden’s re-election bid.
Why does Rory Kennedy call her brother, RFK Jr.’s, presidential campaign “dangerous”?
“It’s really about siphoning votes from Biden,” she tells OutFront pic.twitter.com/N2ZjYOuUGG
— Erin Burnett OutFront (@OutFrontCNN) March 26, 2024
Rory Kennedy was interviewed by CNN’s Erin Burnett about why she believes voting for Kennedy is dangerous and she was clear in her belief that her brother would “siphon” more votes from Biden than former President Donald Trump.
“A CNN poll from just last weekend in the key state of Michigan found more than half of voters have an unfavorable opinion of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden,” Burnett told Kennedy on Monday. “When you say you see your brother’s campaign as a danger, is it more about siphoning votes away from Joe Biden or is it about his policies?”
“It’s really about siphoning votes from Biden,” Rory said. “The polls I’m seeing, Bobby takes 70% of the votes from Biden and 30% from Trump. I feel strongly that this is the most important election of our lifetime. There’s so much at stake and I do think it’s going to come down to a handful of votes in a handful of states.”
Rory’s remarks were made just one day before her brother announced that his running mate would be attorney and tech entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan.
Kennedy’s announcement of a running mate does two things immediately. It allows his name to be included on the general election ballot in more than 20 states that require a named vice-presidential candidate, and it could also bring an influx of cash needed to boost the third-party candidate’s campaign.
In what appears to be a very close presidential race coming in November, a third-party candidate like Kennedy could make a big difference. According to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ’s polling average, Trump has 41.6% percent support, Biden has 39.7% percent and Kennedy has 9.3% in the same average.
Shanahan has previously donated to and held fundraisers for a variety of Democrat candidates, including supporting Biden’s 2020 presidential bid.
“I am leaving the Democratic Party,” Shanahan told her supporters. “I do believe they’ve lost their way and their leadership.”