“A Big Shakeup”: RFK Jr. Reportedly Ending Campaign, Considering Trump Endorsement
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A major shakeup is brewing in the presidential race, with reports suggesting that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the environmental lawyer and talk show host known for his controversial views, may be poised to end his campaign by the end of the week. What’s more, Kennedy, a scion of the famous Democratic Party dynasty, is rumored to be considering endorsing former President Donald Trump—a move that could send ripples through an already tight race.
Kennedy, who has struggled to gain traction in national polls and faced difficulties getting on state ballots, appears to be weighing his options as his campaign falters. According to The Washington Post analyst Philip Bump, Kennedy’s potential exit from the race makes strategic sense, given his lack of widespread support.
“From Kennedy’s perspective, the move makes sense,” Bump wrote. “He doesn’t have much support in national polling and has struggled to make it onto state ballots.” Despite his low polling numbers, Kennedy’s small but dedicated base could be significant in a close contest between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
As Bump points out, “The single-digit support he has might be useful to Trump or to Vice President Kamala Harris, given the closeness of the race. Why not see if either more viable candidate wants to make commitments aligned with Kennedy’s agenda in exchange for his voters?” In theory, if Kennedy were to throw his support behind Trump, it could shift the dynamics of the race.
With Trump and Harris already locked in a razor-thin battle, even a small bump in support could have implications. But as Bump cautions, the situation is more complicated than it might first appear. Many of Kennedy’s left-leaning supporters abandoned him when Harris replaced President Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket.
And those who remain aren’t necessarily Trump fans; recent polls indicate that 41 percent of Kennedy’s supporters view Trump unfavorably. “What many of them might do, then, is simply stay home,” Bump noted, suggesting that an endorsement from Kennedy might not translate into significant gains for Trump.
The numbers don’t lie: even if Trump managed to sway half of Kennedy’s supporters, Bump argues, “it adds a few points to his national support and, according to 538’s average, still has him trailing Harris.” In the end, while stepping down could be a pragmatic decision for Kennedy, Bump concludes that “how good a move it might be for Trump remains to be seen.”
As the race continues to evolve, the potential impact of Kennedy’s departure and endorsement could play a crucial role, though it’s far from certain how much it will ultimately shift the political landscape.
