RFK Jr. declares independent 2024 presidential run, raises millions more

The son of the former senator and environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared on Monday in Philadelphia that he will be running as an independent instead of seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination.

Kennedy aimed to portray himself as a unifier and a voice for people tired of the bitter partisanship in the United States, calling it a barrier to the nation’s improvement.

“People stop me everywhere, at hotels, airports, and on the street. They also remind us that this nation is prepared for a historic transition. In front of the National Constitution Center, Kennedy addressed a crowd of several hundred people and declared himself an independent candidate.

Tony Lyons, the co-founder of American Values 2024, a super PAC supporting the candidate, told Reuters at the event that the group had raised $17 million, up from the $10 million disclosed in July. Following the news, he anticipates receiving an additional $10 million.

Kennedy’s statement complicated the 2024 contest that would pit Democratic incumbent Joe Biden against Republican front-runner Donald Trump in the polls. Large segments of the American population continue to despise both.

In a statement released on Monday, Kennedy’s siblings—Kerry Kennedy, Rory Kennedy, and Joseph II—criticized their brother’s bid for the presidency, saying: “Bobby might have the same name as our father, but he does not have the same beliefs, vision, or judgment. The news we received today is quite upsetting for us.

MAY GET VOTES FROM BOTH TRUMP AND BIDEN
Political experts claimed that Kennedy’s mix of wealthy donors, a well-known name, and a lack of excitement for Trump or Biden may give his candidacy gravitas.

According to a Reuters/Ipsos survey issued last week, he may win the backing of one in seven American voters and steal votes from Trump and Biden. ThiU.S.-party candidates have fallen short of victory in US presidential elections but have significantly influenced the outcome.

At a DNC event last week in St. Louis, party members were contemptuous and alarmed at the same time.

What else does he have besides his name? He is opposed to the history of his family. Ken Martin, chairman of the Democratic Party of Minnesota, called it “a little bit of a disgrace.”

Others warned against it.

Every vote matters because this contest is likely to be extremely tight. “We can’t enter this election with rose-colored glasses on,” said Charles Wilson, the Democratic Party’s leader in Washington, DC.

Many Democrats also point out the difficulties independent candidates face in many states, such as gathering tens of thousands of signatures to be on general election ballots.

“It is a really difficult task. According to Diane Sare, an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in New York who atU.S.ed the Kennedy announcement, the two main parties have made it hard for third-party candidates to get on the ballot.

Requests for reaction from the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee went unanswered.

Army veteran Brian Noble, 42, who participated in the conflict in Iraq, has grown weary of American politics. He cast a ballot for President Obama in 2008 but has since abstained in each subsequent election. He’s so dedicated to the Kennedy campaign that he traveled from Alabama to announce it on Monday. Noble remarked, “I think he’s telling the truth.