Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Iran: Iranian air defenses have shot down an Israeli drone over the city of Qom, south of the capital Tehran
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Iran: An explosion reported in Tabriz near Imam Reza Hospital
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: A squadron of aircraft was heard flying over several Iraqi cities, likely Iranian drones
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The US President is currently chairing a National Security Council meeting
Islamic endowments in occupied al-Quds: Occupation forces arrested two Al-Aqsa guards and raided the mosque's prayer halls
Iranian state TV: Iranian drones on their way to the occupied territories
IRGC Chief of Staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi: The Iranian nation has proven its resolve, never surrendering in the face of aggression
IRGC spokesperson: This operation will continue and will destabilize the occupation regime
IRGC spokesperson: The 19th wave of Operation True Promise 3 put the Israeli regime's overwhelmed defense system on alert
Al Mayadeen correspondent in Iran: A new wave of Iranian missiles has been launched toward the occupied Palestinian territories.

Kennedy drops out of presidential race, endorses Trump

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Aug 2024 09:02
4 Min Read

US independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy drops out of the race and voices his support for former US President Donald Trump.

Listen
  • x
  • Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump embraces Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after getting his endorsement at a campaign rally, Friday, August 23, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona (AP)
    Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump embraces Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after getting his endorsement at a campaign rally, Friday, August 23, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. (AP)

Independent US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Friday that he was suspending his campaign and endorsed Republican candidate Donald Trump, ending a bid that began in April 2023 with RFK as a Democrat hopeful.

Kennedy's candidacy initially gained momentum as voters expressed dissatisfaction with both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, leading Kennedy to pivot his campaign to an independent run. At one point, a Reuters/Ipsos poll in November 2023 showed him drawing 20% of the vote in a three-way race against Biden and Trump.

Despite his early success, Kennedy's campaign faced challenges in securing spots on state ballots as an independent. However, he managed to secure key positions in several competitive swing states, including Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, and North Carolina.

The political landscape shifted dramatically in recent months, with Trump surviving an assassination attempt and Biden stepping down in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. These developments led to a decline in voter interest in Kennedy, with his support dropping to 4% nationally, according to an Ipsos poll conducted earlier in August.

Kennedy's campaign had signaled a potential change in strategy in recent days, culminating in his decision to endorse Trump. According to sources close to his campaign, Kennedy was hoping for a role in a potential Trump administration and sought to keep his political movement alive by staying on the ballot in certain states.

Related News

"Israel" eyes Fordow strike as Iran talks deadline looms: Reuters

Trump, Erdogan made covert attempts to hold talks with Iran: Axios

Throughout his campaign, Kennedy portrayed himself as a political outsider, promising to repeal significant portions of Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, secure the US-Mexico border, and maintain strong support for the Israeli occupation in the midst of the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

His campaign received substantial financial backing, including millions of dollars from Trump mega-donor Timothy Mellon and Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan.

RFK dropping out needed?

The decision by the independent to drop out of the election gives Trump a much-needed boost in light of the numbers favoring Harris. A recent Washington Post, ABC, and Ipsos poll found that Harris was supported by up to 50% of US voters, slightly ahead of Trump, who is supported by 45% of probable voters.

Harris leads Trump by 4 percentage points among those who are already registered to vote and 53% of respondents thought Harris is better qualified to be president, while 47% said Trump is.

The poll, conducted before Kennedy withdrew, found that if additional candidates were on the ballot, which is not the case in every state, 47% would vote for Harris and 44% for Trump. In this instance, independent presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. would earn 5% of the vote, while the Green Party's Jill Stein would obtain 1%.

The vice president is faced with two possible routes to emerge victoriously in the November elections, according to The Post's polling model, indicating that Harris can secure votes in either the Rust Belt states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, and the Sun Belt States of Georgie, Arizona, Nevada, and North Carolina. Meanwhile, Trump would need to win in both the Rust Belt and Sun Belt states re-assume a second term in office. 

Since Harris has more paths to victory than Trump, the Democrat is viewed as more competitive in more states than the former president, potentially securing the required 270 votes or an electoral college victory based on the candidates' polling average.

  • United States
  • RFK Jr
  • Robert F Kennedy Jr
  • Donald Trump
  • Republican Party
  • US presidential elections

Most Read

Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Iran’s Bavar-373 air defense system on display during a military drill (Mehr News Agency)
Politics

Iran intercepts Israeli drones near Tehran, multiple cities

The Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran warns aid to 'Israel' will be treated as aggression

US President Donald Trump arrives to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Friday, June 20, 2025, en route to Montclair, New Jersey (AP)
Politics

Trump, Erdogan made covert attempts to hold talks with Iran: Axios

Ansar Allah supporters surround a giant Iranian flag during an anti-US and anti-'Israel' weekly rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 20, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US ships in Red Sea will be targeted if US attacks Iran: YAF

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS