PHILADELPHIA — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduced Monday that he’ll run for president as an impartial, abandoning his quest to problem President Joe Biden for the Democratic Social gathering nomination.
Kennedy, the son and namesake of an assassinated former U.S. senator and presidential candidate, revealed his new plan of action at an early afternoon rally for supporters on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, a location he selected for its proximity to the place the nation was based.
“Individuals cease me in all places … they usually remind me that this nation is prepared for a history-making change. They’re able to reclaim their freedom ― their independence!” he declared to a cheering crowd. “And that’s why I’m right here in the present day ― I’m right here to declare myself an impartial candidate” for president.
Kennedy went on to stipulate how his ideologically heterodox marketing campaign, targeted on therapeutic the partisan divide, would “declare independence” from the corrupting affect of firms, the “mercenary” media, the “cynical elites,” and naturally, the two-party system.
As a Democratic candidate, Kennedy, an environmental-attorney-turned-vaccine-skeptic and conspiracy theorist, upset expectations with the numerous help he garnered in some polls, although that help has waned over time.
However the Democratic Nationwide Committee has refused to schedule debates between Biden and different Democratic hopefuls.
Kennedy additionally lamented new occasion guidelines making South Carolina the primary main state and penalizing candidates who marketing campaign within the unsanctioned New Hampshire main, saying this had stacked the race in opposition to him. (The occasion has laid these guidelines out overtly, however Kennedy has made further, baseless claims concerning the DNC’s alleged plans to intrude along with his bid.)
“So how are we going to win in opposition to the established Washington pursuits?” Kennedy mentioned in a video teasing his Philadelphia rally. “It’s not via taking part in the sport by the corrupt guidelines that the corrupt powers and vested pursuits have rigged to maintain us all of their thrall.”
Kennedy’s determination follows an analogous step by left-wing educational and activist Cornel West, who introduced Thursday that he would run as an impartial moderately than vie for the Inexperienced Social gathering’s presidential nomination. He advised CNN that looking for the Inexperienced Social gathering nomination required an excessive amount of inside occasion campaigning and that it was simpler to acquire a spot on the poll in all 50 states as an impartial.
Marianne Williamson, a self-help creator and non secular guru, stays within the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. She has up to now failed to interrupt via in polling.
In contrast to Williamson, nevertheless, Kennedy and West might each siphon votes from Biden in a normal election.
Kennedy has espoused conventionally liberal views on local weather change, racial justice and the welfare state whereas additionally opposing america’ continued arming of Ukraine, the administration of a collection of vaccines whose dangers he believes have been hid by Large Pharma and the federal government, and the closures of faculties and different public locations for public well being causes in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kennedy has additionally expressed extra conservative views than Biden on the query of shutting down unauthorized entries on the U.S. border, gun rights, and fogeys’ function in choices about their youngsters’s gender transitions.
As a Democratic candidate, Kennedy acquired far more protection — and favorable therapy — from right-wing media shops than from mainstream or liberal outfits. It’s unclear whether or not that may proceed now that he’s now not difficult Biden within the Democratic main.
The Republican Nationwide Committee wasted no time blasting Kennedy as a “typical elitist liberal” as Kennedy made the announcement Monday afternoon.
“Make no mistake ― a Democrat in Impartial’s clothes remains to be a Democrat,” RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel mentioned in a press release. “RFK Jr. can’t cover from his report of endorsing Hillary, supporting the Inexperienced New Deal, combating in opposition to the Keystone Pipeline, and praising AOC’s tax hikes ― he’s your typical elitist liberal and voters gained’t be fooled.”
In a hypothetical normal election matchup with each Biden and former President Donald Trump, who’s the polling chief within the GOP main, Kennedy would obtain 14% of the vote, pulling help from each main occasion candidates, in response to a Reuters/Ipsos ballot that got here out Thursday.
It is a growing story. Please examine again for updates.