Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has ended his independent presidential bid, throwing his support behind Republican nominee Donald Trump.
This move, announced in a Pennsylvania court filing according to the Associated Press, marks a significant shift in the 2024 election landscape.
Kennedy plans to deliver a speech in Arizona later today, likely explaining his decision to back Trump over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
This endorsement transforms Kennedy’s role from a potential vote-splitting independent to a would-be ally of the Trump campaign.
The timing is noteworthy.
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It comes just a day after Harris officially accepted the Democratic nomination, and during a week where Trump has been working hard to grab headlines and counter Harris’s momentum.
Kennedy’s campaign has had its ups and downs.
Today I’m going to set the record straight by explaining my exact posture, point-by-point, on what is probably the most controversial issue of my campaign—a medical safety issue that impacts every one of us. If you take a few minutes to listen, I think you might be surprised to… pic.twitter.com/FJucMmUexF
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) August 22, 2024
Earlier this year, he was polling as high as 20% in some national three-way race polls with Trump and then-President Biden.
But his support had been slipping. By mid-July, he was down to about 8%.
When Biden stepped aside for Harris, Kennedy’s numbers took another hit, quickly falling to around 5%.
Now, the big question is how Kennedy’s endorsement might sway the race.
His campaign was unusual – starting as a Democrat before going independent – making it tough to predict how his supporters will react.
Will they follow Kennedy’s lead and back Trump? Or will they look elsewhere?
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This latest twist adds another layer of uncertainty to an already unpredictable election.