Exclusive report, Mediaite has learned that 2024 presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is gearing up to announce his run as an independent candidate on October 9 in Pennsylvania.
Kennedy’s campaign team is currently planning what they refer to as “attack ads” targeting the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in preparation for his announcement in Philadelphia, according to a text message reviewed by Mediaite.
A source within Kennedy’s campaign shed light on his decision, stating, “Bobby feels that the DNC is changing the rules to exclude his candidacy, so an independent run is the only way to go.”
Kennedy, known for his controversial stance on vaccines and challenging the incumbent President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination, has been contemplating a third-party run in recent weeks. The New York Times reported last week that he had met with the chair of the Libertarian Party, raising the possibility of departing from the party that has long been associated with the Kennedy family.
Despite trailing significantly behind Biden in the polls, concerns have arisen among Democrats about the potential impact of a third-party run by Kennedy. The Times noted that “Democrats worry that a third-party run by Mr. Kennedy could draw votes away from Mr. Biden and help elect former President Donald J. Trump.” However, it remains uncertain whether such a run would influence the current president more than the Republican nominee.
Interestingly, polls indicate that Republicans hold a more favorable view of Kennedy compared to Democrats. Back in July, a survey conducted among New Hampshire Democrats revealed that the top words used to describe Kennedy were “crazy,” “dangerous,” “insane,” “conspiracy,” and “unknown.”
Conservative media outlets have also shown stronger support for Kennedy’s campaign. Fox News host Greg Gutfeld suggested in July that Kennedy should consider running as a third-party candidate.
“I think he should run as a third-party candidate because I do think he would win, given that his party’s radical elements, what we call the woke, have embraced this fascist clampdown on language,” Gutfeld remarked.
The upcoming announcement on October 9 in Pennsylvania is expected to clarify Kennedy’s political trajectory as he seeks an independent path to the presidency.
