Topline
Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is considering ending his run for president and throwing his support behind former President Donald Trump instead, Kennedy’s running mate Nicole Shanahan said during a podcast posted Tuesday, while Trump told CNN on Tuesday he would “certainly” be open to giving Kennedy a role in his administration if he’s elected to a second term.
Shanahan discussed the RFK Jr. campaign’s next moves in a podcast published Tuesday. (Photo by … [+]
Key Facts
Shanahan told entrepreneur and YouTuber Tom Bilyeu in an interview the campaign is thinking about ending its run to “join forces” with Trump and “explain to our base why we’re making this decision.”
Shanahan also said the campaign is considering staying in and attempting to capture 5% of the popular vote to form an alternative to Republicans and Democrats, though she said that course of action runs the risk of drawing votes from Trump.
Shanahan, a tech lawyer and entrepreneur, said it is “not an easy decision” for the campaign to make.
Trump told CNN’s Kristen Holmes on Tuesday he did not know Kennedy was thinking about withdrawing, lauding the independent’s intellect and saying he could tap him for an administration role in a second term.
The running mate did not specify why, exactly, the campaign was considering dropping out, and did not mention the campaign’s fundraising obstacles.
Kennedy’s campaign had $3.9 million in cash at the end of July and $3.5 million in debt after spending $7 million last month, Politico reported, noting half of the $5.6 million the campaign raised in July came from Shanahan.
Kennedy is polling at 4.9% in national polls according to FiveThirtyEight’s weighted average, down 0.6 points since the start of the month.
A representative for the Trump campaign did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment.
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Crucial Quote
“I didn’t know he was thinking about getting out, but if he is thinking about getting out, certainly I’d be open to it,” Trump told CNN.
Tangent
A large part of the Kennedy campaign’s spending last month was allocated toward ballot access, according to Politico, as Kennedy was recently disqualified from a spot on New York’s general election ballot after a judge ruled the candidate used a bogus New York residence on his nomination petitions. Kennedy appealed the ruling, arguing New York residency rules do not apply to presidential candidates and placing blame on the Democratic party.
Key Background
A Kennedy-Trump alliance would build off a mixed relationship between the two candidates. Both major parties fear Kennedy could draw votes from them and act as a spoiler, but since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, Kennedy is now believed to be a boon for Vice President Kamala Harris, according to The Washington Post, which noted there is increasing evidence Kennedy is now more likely to pull votes from Trump than the vice president. The shifting dynamic would make an endorsement from Kennedy even more valuable for Trump, who reportedly met with Kennedy last month to seek an endorsement amid rumors the independent candidate may drop out, but the talks fell through in part because he pushed for a job in the administration, The Washington Post reported. Kennedy also tried to meet with Harris to talk about a Cabinet role, according to the Post.
Further Reading
Here Are Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Richest Donors (Forbes)
RFK Jr.’s sputtering presidential campaign is almost broke (Politico)
RFK Jr. Picks Nicole Shanahan As Running Mate: Tech Lawyer Once Married To Google Founder Brin (Forbes)
