What’s Happening:
Joe Biden faces many hurdles in his quest for a second term. Many Americans blame him for the struggling economy and border crisis. His approval has long been very low. And he might come face-to-face with Donald Trump in 2024–a rematch that might be his undoing.
But there is another storm brewing within the Democratic Party. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been gaining support since he announced his primary run. Democratic officials have seemingly ignored his candidacy, refusing to let him debate Biden.
During a town hall, someone asked Kennedy the obvious question. And if he decides to do this, Biden’s re-election chances will be very slim, indeed.
From Newsweek:
Speculation that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may leave the Democratic Party could turn President Joe Biden’s 2024 nightmare reelection scenario into a reality…“They’re trying to make sure that I can’t participate at all in the political process, and so I’m going to keep all my options open,” Kennedy said of the Democratic National Committee…
Democrats worry that a third-party candidate in a general election will pull votes away from Biden, who is facing low approval ratings, and help elect the eventual Republican nominee in 2024.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was asked if he’d run as a third-party candidate if he failed to win the Democratic primary. The nephew of beloved President John F. Kennedy said he wanted to keep his ties to the Democratic Party.
But he acknowledged that officials within the DNC are refusing to acknowledge his campaign. And he claimed they were helping Biden deny Kennedy’s involvement in the “political process.” Because of this ill-treatment by his own party, Kennedy said he was keeping all his options “open.”
This could mean he will run as a third-party candidate if he cannot secure the Democratic nomination. If that happens, he is likely to take many votes away from Joe Biden, particularly moderate Democrats discontent with Biden’s leadership (which is becoming increasingly leftist).
Already a third-party candidate is threatening Biden’s re-election. Respected black professor Cornel West is running for the Green Party. He is likely to draw many black votes from Biden, as well as votes from left-wing voters.
Should Kennedy become another rival candidate in the general election, it would impact Biden much more than the Republican candidate. Conservative voters will stay loyal to the GOP candidate (which will most likely be Donald Trump). But liberals could defect to Kennedy.
This could ensure Biden will be unable to win his second term.
Key Takeaways:
- RFK did not rule out a third-party run if he loses the Democratic primary.
- If Kennedy runs in the general, he is likely to take votes from Joe Biden.
- This kind of scenario would ensure Biden loses the race to the Republican candidate.
Source: Newsweek
