He presents himself “free of all party allegiance”. On Monday, Robert Kennedy Jr officially declared himself for the November 2024 presidential election as an independent candidate. At 69, the controversial nephew of JFK, who is mainly talked about by his conspiracy on Covid and vaccines, therefore renounces the Democratic nomination – which he had no chance of winning – and could weigh in the probable duel between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
“I will only serve my conscience, my creator and you,” the son of the former Democratic Minister of Justice and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy told his supporters. He attacked Joe Biden, “considered too old by 75%” of Americans, and Donald Trump, “who faces multiple civil and criminal proceedings”.
With this candidacy as a third party candidate, RFK Jr will have to fight to have his name on the ballot. In some states, it is first necessary to gather thousands, even tens of thousands, of voter signatures.
Biden and Trump on the defensive
A Reuters poll last week placed him at a high level, at 14% voting intentions, compared to 38% for Biden and 40% for Donald Trump. It is common, however, for independent candidates to start very high and then fall back to finish below 3%. The main exception remains the billionaire Ross Perot, in 1996, who obtained 8% of the votes during Bill Clinton’s victory against Bob Dole.
Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump may have reason to worry. RFK Jr could appeal to Democrats disillusioned with Biden, particularly with his past as a lawyer specializing in environmental issues. But with his anti-vax conspiracy, and a populist candidacy on the economy and foreign policy, he could cut into Donald Trump’s electorate, particularly among white workers.
If they are rarely talked about, the “small” candidates can influence the vote, especially in “swing states” which are decided by fewer than 50,000 votes. Some Democratic experts had accused Green Jill Stein of having cost Hillary Clinton victory in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, and therefore the American presidential election.
After the announcement of his candidacy, the black sheep of the Kennedys was tackled by four of his brothers and sisters: “Our brother Bobby’s decision to be a candidate against Joe Biden is dangerous for the country. Bobby may have the same name as our father but he doesn’t share the same values. »