Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expected to drop his Democratic primary bid, launch an independent or third-party run
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
is expected to announce Monday that he will drop his Democratic bid for president and run as an independent or third-party candidate, adding a wrinkle to a 2024 race currently heading toward a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
Kennedy's campaign has teased the announcement in the days leading up to a Monday afternoon speech in Philadelphia. In a recent video, Kennedy said there is corruption “in the leadership of both political parties” and said he wants to “rewrite the assumptions and change the habits of American politics.”
The video came shortly after Mediaite reported he planned to launch an independent bid.
A member of one of America’s most famous Democratic families, the 69-year-old Kennedy was running a long-shot Democratic primary bid but has better favorability ratings among Republicans.
It’s unclear whether GOP support would translate to a general election when Kennedy would also be running against Trump, the early front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination. Allies of both Biden, a Democrat, and Trump have at times questioned whether Kennedy would be a spoiler against their candidate.
Biden's allies so far have dismissed Kennedy’s primary campaign as unserious.
Asked for comment on his potential independent run, a Democratic National Committee spokesman responded with an eye roll emoji.
Awaiting Kennedy's remarks Monday, hundreds of supporters gathered at Philadelphia's Independence Mall, an apt location for the expected launch. Campaign signs teased a potential new slogan: “Declare your independence.”
Among Kennedy's fans in the crowd were several voters who said they don’t identify as Democratic or Republican and view Kennedy as a truth
