RFK Jr. suspends presidential campaign

CNN
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Impartial presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduced at a information convention in Phoenix Friday that he’s suspending his marketing campaign and endorsing Trump.

“In my coronary heart, I not imagine that I’ve a sensible path of electoral victory within the face of this relentless, systematic censorship and media management. So I can’t, in good conscience, ask my workers and volunteers to maintain working their lengthy hours, or ask my donors to maintain giving once I can’t actually inform them that I’ve an actual path to the White Home,” he mentioned.

Kennedy then mentioned he’ll now “throw my assist to President Trump.”

“Three nice causes drove me to enter this race within the first place, primarily, and these are the principal causes that persuaded me to depart the Democratic Get together and run as an impartial, and now to throw my assist to President Trump,” he mentioned.

Kennedy insisted that he was not ending his marketing campaign, however he famous that he’ll withdraw his identify from showing on ballots in swing states.

“My identify will stay on the poll in most states. When you dwell in a blue state, you’ll be able to vote for me with out harming — or serving to — President Trump or Vice President Harris. In pink states, the identical will apply,” he mentioned. “… However, in about 10 battleground states, the place my presence can be a spoiler, I’m going to take away my identify, and I’ve already began that course of and urge voters to not vote for me.”

He additionally mentioned that he believed he might find yourself within the White Home if there’s a contingent election, which might happen if neither of the main get together candidates acquired the 270 votes essential to win the election.

Kennedy later appeared as a “particular visitor” at Trump’s personal occasion in Phoenix.

Kennedy operating mate Nicole Shanahan praised him following his announcement and urged him to “save our youngsters” in a social media publish.

Shanahan, who was not in attendance on the Phoenix occasion, thanked Kennedy for operating and known as being part of his marketing campaign “one in all my best honors.“

“You sparked a motion that thousands and thousands of People had been eager for. It has been one in all my best honors to run this race with you,” she mentioned. “It has been awe-inspiring to witness the fearlessness you confirmed within the face of censorship, blatant lies about your character, and even threats in opposition to your life. Save our youngsters, Bobby.”

Her assertion comes after Kennedy mentioned that Trump supplied him a task in his administration and instructed the position would oversee a well being care portfolio.

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CNN’s Kristen Holmes explains why the Trump marketing campaign is searching for an endorsement from Impartial presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

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CNN
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8:23 PM EDT, Fri August 23, 2024

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CNN’s Kristen Holmes explains why the Trump marketing campaign is searching for an endorsement from Impartial presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

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CNN reporter on why Trump sought RFK Jr.’s endorsement

Kennedy mentioned the provide got here in two conferences with Trump, first within the days after the assassination try on the previous president in July, and a second assembly weeks later.

“In these conferences, he instructed that we be part of forces as a unity get together. We talked about Abraham Lincoln’s staff of rivals, that association would enable us to disagree publicly and privately and furiously, if want be on points over which we differ, whereas working collectively on the existential points upon which we’re in concordance,” he mentioned.

Kennedy’s announcement got here shortly after a court docket submitting in Pennsylvania mentioned he was withdrawing from a poll entry problem within the state “on account of at the moment’s endorsement” of former President Donald Trump.

Earlier Friday, Kennedy’s marketing campaign mentioned he hadn’t endorsed Trump, and the lawyer who made the submitting, Paul Rossi, mentioned that he had “misstated” the candidate’s plans after which filed an amended discover.

However Kennedy’s assist for Trump was clear Friday afternoon. He famous throughout his Friday remarks that the previous president had requested to “enlist him in his administration.”

Dicky Barrett, a musician from Massachusetts and avid Kennedy backer, expressed some disappointment that Kennedy is not going to see his marketing campaign right through to November.

“Is there one other candidate that I really feel remotely as enthusiastic about? No,” he mentioned.

Casey Westerman, an Arizona-based Kennedy supporter who has beforehand voted for Trump, advised CNN earlier than Kennedy’s announcement she would fortunately vote for the previous president once more if Kennedy endorsed him.

Democratic Nationwide Committee senior adviser Mary Beth Cahill known as Kennedy a “failed fringe candidate” and instructed his endorsement of Trump received’t profit his marketing campaign.

“The extra voters realized about RFK Jr. the much less they favored him. Donald Trump isn’t incomes an endorsement that’s going to assist construct assist, he’s inheriting the luggage of a failed fringe candidate. Good riddance,” she mentioned.

Members of Kennedy’s household who criticized his presidential marketing campaign and endorsed Harris condemned Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump.

Kennedy’s siblings Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Chris Kennedy and Rory Kennedy mentioned in an announcement the endorsement marked “a tragic ending to a tragic story.”

“We wish an America full of hope and sure collectively by a shared imaginative and prescient of a brighter future, a future outlined by particular person freedom, financial promise and nationwide pleasure. We imagine in Harris and Walz. Our brother Bobby’s determination to endorse Trump at the moment is a betrayal of the values that our father and household maintain most pricey. It’s a unhappy ending to a tragic story,” the assertion mentioned.