by Ben Whedon
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy has suffered a series of setbacks in recent weeks that seem to have him eyeing the exit ramp. He has since reportedly sought to cut a deal with either the Trump or Harris campaigns to trade an endorsement for a role in the administration, though neither camp has reportedly been receptive to such an offer.
While still the most influential of the third-party candidates, Kennedy has seen his support nearly cut in half since President Joe Biden left the Democratic ticket in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. In the final RealClearPolitics polling average featuring Biden as a candidate, Kennedy earned 8.7% support. Former President Donald Trump led that lineup with 43.4% to Biden’s 39.2%. The Green Party’s Jill Stein earned 1.9% while independent Cornel West took 1.6%.
But with Harris in the mix, Kennedy’s support has fallen to 5.5% on average. Harris currently leads the five-way race with 45.6% support to Trump’s 44.6%. Stein and West took 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively.
Kennedy has made the ballot in many critical states such as Texas and Florida, as well as battleground Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, according to Newsweek. He has not, however, managed to secure his place on the ballot in a majority of states, including Democratic bastions New York and California. Earlier this week, a New York state court judge ruled that Kennedy would not appear on the Empire State’s ballot, delivering a considerable blow to his campaign.
Well shy of the polling lead necessary to win any states outright and seemingly devoid of access to most state ballots, Kennedy’s prospects of claiming the presidency appear dim. Reports of his attempts to secure a cabinet position in either camp seem to suggest that he agrees with that prognosis and is looking for a way to remain a driver of policy in whichever camp may have him.
Harris campaign sees a “MAGA-funded fringe candidate”
The Washington Post reported this week that Kennedy had requested a meeting with Harris to discuss a role in the administration in exchange for his endorsement, but that the Harris campaign has not been receptive.
Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, adamantly denied that the campaign was negotiating with Harris, posting on X that “[w]e are NOT in talks with Harris. Speaking personally, they are a lost cause. Literally.”
“No one has any intention of negotiating with a MAGA-funded fringe candidate who has sought out a job with Donald Trump in exchange for an endorsement,” Democratic National Committee spokesperson Matt Corridoni told Just the News.
Kennedy has openly advocated for discussions between the leading candidates, suggesting such a move would help in “unifying the country.” He further called Harris’s decision not to meet with him a “strategic mistake” and warned of a “close race,” saying “I think they ought to be looking at every opportunity.”
The Kennedy campaign directed Just the News to an X post from Kennedy, in which he denied plans to endorse Harris and lamented that the party of his uncle and father had become “unrecognizable” under its current leadership.
“I’ve spent years battling government corruption and lies. VP Harris spent years gaslighting Americans about the health of our Commander in Chief,” he said. “I have no plans to endorse Kamala Harris for President. I do have a plan to defeat her.”
The Trump campaign had nothing for him either
Talk of Kennedy striking a similar arrangement with Trump soared in the aftermath of the July 13 assassination attempt on the Republican. The pair met in the wake of the incident and Trump subsequently called for Kennedy to receive Secret Service protection, which the Biden administration had previously denied him.
Shortly after the meeting, however, footage leaked of the pair’s conversation, in which Trump discussed the possibility of Kennedy serving in his administration.
“I would love you to do something,” Trump said, according to NPR. “I think it would be so good for you and so big for you. And we’re gonna win.” Robert F. Kennedy III, the son of the presidential candidate, posted the footage. Kennedy himself, apologized for the incident, blaming himself for not ordering a videographer to stop recording.
The meeting did not result in an endorsement from Kennedy, whose campaign insisted he was not planning to drop out and would seek to meet with Democrats.
“Yes, Mr. Kennedy met with President Trump today to discuss national unity, and he hopes to meet with leaders of the Democratic Party as well. And no he is not dropping out of the race. He is the only pro-environment, pro-choice, anti-war candidate who beats Donald Trump in head-to-head polls,” campaign press secretary Stefanie Spear said at the time. Biden had yet to drop out of the race.
The Trump campaign, for its part, appears to consider the matter settled and likened his policy platform to that of Harris in a statement to Just the News.
“Just like Kamala Harris, RFK Jr. is a radical leftist and an environmental whack job who loves EV mandates and wants to end gasoline powered engines.” Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said.
– – –
Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.
Photo “Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.” by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
