Kennedy family to endorse Biden campaign against RFK Jr.

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Axios
18 Apr 2024 15:48

Joe Kennedy III, a former member of Congress currently serving as Biden's special envoy to Northern Ireland, will introduce Biden at a Philadelphia rally.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. poses for a photo with a family of supporters prior to a campaign event, Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP)

Axios revealed that members of the famous Kennedy family will show up at US President Joe Biden's campaign for November's elections and endorse the frontrunner at his rally in Philadelphia on Thursday - leaving one of their own, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., sidelined.

This comes as it is being reported that RFK Jr. poses a bigger threat to Biden than his opponent, Republican Donald Trump, especially as many voters express no trust in either Biden or Trump.

According to Axios, RFK Jr.'s sister, Kerry Kennedy, is due to invoke the legacy of her slain father, former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and that of her uncles: former President John F. Kennedy and Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy.

Prepared remarks shared with Axios state that she will say: "I can only imagine how Donald Trump's outrageous lies and behavior would have horrified my father", and that "President Biden has been a champion for all the rights and freedoms that my father and uncles stood for".

Joe Kennedy III, a former member of Congress currently serving as Biden's special envoy to Northern Ireland, will introduce Biden at the Philadelphia rally.

Kennedys critical of RFK Jr.

Many of the Kennedy family members have been vocally critical of RFK Jr, and have publicly supported Biden as dozens of the family members posed with him at a St. Patrick's Day party at the White House last month.

Earlier this month, RFK Jr. told CNN that Biden poses a bigger threat to American democracy than Trump, due to Biden's tactic of mobilizing federal establishments to oppress and silence his rivals throughout the elections.

He revealed he was blocked on several social media platforms during Biden's incumbency, a move he regarded as political censorship commanded by Biden and the White House in violation of the First Amendment of America’s constitution.

Kennedy emphasized that although Trump played a significant role in igniting the January 6 riots, Biden still posed a bigger threat to US democracy.

Between a rock and a hard place

The Biden campaign is taking advantage of every opportunity to make 2024 only between Biden and Trumpو but Kennedy's independent candidacy serves like a wedge in between - threatening Biden.

Meanwhile, the Democrats (DNC) are trying to fend off Kennedy's attempts to win swing states, as the DNC has hired communications professionals specifically to fight off Kennedy.

In fact, per Axios, two of the last three GOP presidential victories - Bush in 2020 and Trump in 2016 - were won by the appeal of third-party candidates to disaffected voters.

Back in September, data derived from Axios' latest Engagious/Sago focus groups showed many Arizona swing voters seemed dissatisfied with Biden and Trump and would prefer RFK Jr as president in 2024.

Engagious president Rich Thau, who moderated the groups, said, "With so much antipathy toward Trump and Biden, swing voters are off-the-charts receptive to a third alternative, especially one with such a recognizable name".