PHILADELPHIA Kennedy runs— On Monday, Republicans launched an independent bid for the White House against longtime environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This reflected growing right-wing concerns that the former Democrat now threatens to accept votes from former President Donald Trump in 2024.

While national Democrats remained silent, the Republican National Committee and Trump’s campaign criticized Kennedy’s liberal heritage during his Philadelphia address, where he insisted he was leaving both political parties.

“Voters should not be duped by those who pretend to hold conservative views,” a spokesperson for Trump stated in a statement. Steven Cheung. He characterized Kennedy’s campaign as “a mere vanity project orchestrated by a liberal Kennedy seeking to exploit the reputation of his family.”

The emotional reaction reveals the uncertainties surrounding Kennedy’s eagerly awaited choice to run independently. It remains unclear how the move will affect the 2024 election, which is headed towards a rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden.

Kennedy, a longshot primary candidate and member of one of the most illustrious families in Democratic politics, enjoys a higher favorability rating among Republicans than Democrats. Even Trump stated of Kennedy only two weeks ago, “I like him. I’ve had a lengthy acquaintance with him.”

On occasion, Biden and Trump allies have questioned whether Kennedy would betray their respective candidates.

“The truth is, they are both correct,” Kennedy declared to raucous applause on Monday. “My goal is to ensure that it is ruined for them both.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s Independent Run For President Draws GOP Criticism And Silence From National Democrats.

Kennedy stated unequivocally on Monday from Independence Mall in Philadelphia, where the foundational documents of the United States were ratified, that he did not wish to be associated with either political party. He stated that a “rising tide of discontent” swept the nation. According to him, a “new declaration of independence” is required—one that excludes corporations, the media, and the two main political parties.

Hundreds of ecstatic supporters were in attendance during Kennedy’s remarks, some of whom held banners that read “Declare your independence” and occasionally chanted “RFK, all the way!” They were enthusiastic about his choice. Kennedy, they insisted, could unite an eclectic group of disillusioned Democrats, Trump voters seeking a change, and political outsiders whose beliefs do not fit into the platform of any one party.

“He is going to win,” said Peter Pantazis, a Lewes, Delaware-based business owner of forty years old. “I have been fervently hoping that he will disengage from the party system, decentralise the campaign, and truly represent the people as their candidate.” Furthermore, he made this announcement today.

“Over the past few years, I’ve noticed that the Republican Party has taken a path that I don’t approve of,” said South Philadelphia veteran Brent Snyder, who is disabled. “It is not that I endorse all that is transpiring under Trump, but I believe he currently carries more baggage than is necessary for his country.” The division is currently in a dreadful state. Someone is required to unite the opposing factions to facilitate our collaboration.

As Kennedy spoke of John Adams’ unwavering support for his nation and George Washington’s foresighted admonition that partisan politics would lead to corruption, a palpable atmosphere of optimism and the faint scent of marijuana pervaded the audience.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s Independent Run For President Draws GOP Criticism And Silence From National Democrats.

However, Kennedy’s fledgling campaign faced significant challenges in competing with the Trump and Biden campaigns regarding financial resources, support, and experience. His announcement on Monday was momentarily delayed when, upon entering the stage, he discovered that the teleprompter had inverted the content of his speech.

A week before the announcement on Monday, progressive activist Cornel West withdrew his candidature for the Green Party in support of an independent run for the White House. In the interim, the centrist organization No Labels is proactively working to secure ballot access for an unidentified candidate.

Recognizing the potential for Kennedy to alienate Republicans in terms of support, allies of Trump have initiated the dissemination of opposition research aimed at undermining Kennedy’s reputation among aspiring conservatives.

Before Kennedy’s speech, the Republican National Committee published a fact document titled “Radical DEMOCRAT RFK Jr.” that details instances in which he supported liberal politicians or ideas. The document additionally detailed instances in which he endorsed conspiracy theories about COVID-19 or “stolen-election claims” concerning the Democratic Party’s defeats in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections to President George W. Bush. Trump persists in endorsing the debunked hypothesis that his electoral defeat to Biden was due to electoral theft.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s Independent Run For President Draws GOP Criticism And Silence From National Democrats.

Biden’s allies have thus far disregarded as unserious Kennedy’s primary campaign. A spokesman for the Democratic National Committee responded to a request for comment before the announcement by employing the eye roll emoji. On Monday, the DNC declined to comment.

Kennedy’s four surviving siblings issued a joint statement that condemned his candidature and expressed their regret over his announcement.

It stated, “Our country is in grave danger due to our brother Bobby’s decision to run against Joe Biden as a third-party candidate.” “Although Bobby and our father share the same name, they diverge significantly in terms of values, vision, and judgement.”

Co-founder and co-chairman of the super PAC supporting Kennedy, American Values 2024, Tony Lyons, disregarded those remarks as “part of a strategy to discredit him.”

Lyons stated, “At his family dinner tables, they would disagree on any subject; that is the appearance of democracy.” Families are permitted to hold divergent views.

Despite Kennedy’s longtime Democrat affiliation and frequent campaign references to his late father, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and uncle, President John F. Kennedy, he has recently developed close ties with far-right figures. He made a guest appearance on a channel managed by Alex Jones, a Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist, and presided over a stop on the ReAwaken America Tour, which Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser to Donald Trump and a Christian nationalist organization, organized.

Polls indicate that Democrats hold a much lower favorable opinion of Kennedy than Republicans. His extreme views, which include a vocal skepticism of COVID-19 vaccines that research has shown to be effective and safe against a life-threatening illness, have also garnered him the support of some far-right conservatives.

A lawsuit is pending against several news organizations, including The Associated Press, on behalf of Kennedy’s anti-vaccine organization, Children’s Health Defence. Kennedy, who resigned from the organization upon declaring his candidature for president, is nevertheless identified as an attorney in the lawsuit.

SOURCE – (AP)