Democrats should dismiss Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at their own peril.
Kennedy’s independent bid for president could pose a major threat to Joe Biden and Democrats – no matter what party activists are saying now that it hurts Republican Donald Trump more.
Kennedy could become a major spoiler, drawing away disaffected conservative and moderate Democrats and voters enamored with the Kennedy name from the Democratic ticket.
It’s why Kennedy’s siblings, including former Massachusetts congressman Joe Kennedy II, have condemned their brother in such strong terms. Some family loyalty.
“The decision of our brother Bobby to run as a third party candidate against Joe Biden is dangerous to our country,” said the letter by Rory Kennedy and signed by three more siblings, Kerry, Joe II and Kathleen. “Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment. (The) announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it is perilous for our country.”
The statement proves that Democrats now crowing about Kennedy taking away Trump votes are sadly mistaken or deluded.
Why would the Kennedy family come out so strong against one of their own if he didn’t pose a threat to Biden? When they talk about “perilous for our country” they are talking about Trump being elected again.
“It was very painful for me,” RFK Jr. said in a Fox interview of his siblings’ denouncement of him.
Former congressman Joseph Kennedy III did not sign onto the statement against RFK Jr. but he is looking to get back into the mainstream of Democratic politics so he probably approves.
We haven’t heard much from JoeK3 lately, but there could be an opportunity to run for the Senate again if Biden steps aside and incumbent Elizabeth Warren runs for president. Or Kennedy – who was badly beaten by U.S. Sen. Edward Markey in a primary matchup – could wait until Markey retires.
Meanwhile, RFK Jr. certainly has a right to run as an independent, so what’s the big scandal about him doing that?
It’s because he could become the final nail in Biden’s political coffin.
Biden is already in an extremely weak position heading into 2024, losing or at best running even with Trump. He can’t afford to have anyone drawing more Democratic and independent votes away from him.
In one three-way matchup poll, Kennedy is already drawing 14% of the vote. That’s a significant chunk that will have a major impact on the election.
And while a third party bid is not likely to succeed, it seems that 2024 is the perfect time to do it given the widespread dissatisfaction and downright hatred of Biden and Trump.
Many Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters are alarmed at the left-leaning lurch of the party lately.
That could be the most dangerous sign that Biden is doomed.
