Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is edging closer to securing ballot access in the crucial battleground state of North Carolina, presenting a potential challenge for President Joe Biden’s reelection bid. Recent polling indicates that Kennedy draws more support from Biden than from former President Donald Trump, potentially altering the electoral landscape.
Kennedy’s campaign recently announced that it has amassed the necessary signatures to place his name on the ballot under the “We The People” party, as reported by the Daily Caller News Foundation. The presence of Kennedy and other third-party candidates on the ballot in North Carolina has widened Trump’s lead over Biden, according to RealClearPolitics (RCP) averages, from 4.4 points to 6.7 points.
The announcement from the independent candidate comes amid heightened efforts from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and other liberal groups to counter the potential impact of third-party contenders on Biden’s chances of securing reelection.
Stefanie Spear, the press secretary for the Kennedy campaign, emphasized their readiness to navigate the electoral landscape, stating, “We have the field teams, volunteers, legal teams, paid circulators, supporters, and strategists ready to get the job done.”
In a scenario involving Trump, Biden, Kennedy, “Justice for All Party” candidate Cornel West, and Green Party candidate Jill Stein, Kennedy garners 5.5% support in North Carolina, a battleground state that Trump narrowly won by 1.3 points in 2020, according to RCP averages.
Trump’s leads over Biden in swing states such as Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin also expand when Kennedy and other third-party candidates are included on the ballot.
Responding to the perceived threat, the DNC has established its first-ever team aimed at addressing third-party contenders, along with a group of lawyers tasked with scrutinizing the ballot access methods of Kennedy and other candidates.
In a recent development, the party filed a complaint against the Kennedy-aligned super PAC, American Values 2024, alleging assistance in gathering ballot signatures.
Although Kennedy’s candidacy currently extends only to Utah, progress is being made toward gaining ballot access in states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, South Carolina, and New Hampshire, with the assistance of the super PAC.
Despite surpassing the ballot signature threshold in Nevada in early March, Kennedy faced a setback due to the absence of a running mate at the time. However, he rectified this by announcing Silicon Valley lawyer Nicole Shanahan as his vice presidential pick, thereby meeting the requirements for ballot qualification in several states.
As Kennedy’s campaign continues to navigate the complex process of securing ballot access across multiple states, the potential ramifications for Biden’s electoral prospects in key battlegrounds remain a focal point of political analysis.
