RFK Jr’s running mate says campaign considering backing Trump

Reuters Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr speaks at Bitcoin 2024 in NashvilleReuters

Robert F Kennedy Jr’s operating mate says the unbiased presidential candidate is contemplating becoming a member of forces with Donald Trump’s marketing campaign or staying in and forming a 3rd occasion.

On a podcast, Nicole Shanahan stated they had been contemplating the 2 choices to keep away from the “danger” of a Kamala Harris presidency.

She additionally accused the Democrats of “sabotage”, together with planting insiders of their marketing campaign.

Mr Kennedy has confronted quite a lot of hurdles in his longshot third-party marketing campaign, from authorized challenges over getting his identify on state ballots to funding his run.

“There’s two choices that we’re and one is staying in, forming that new occasion, however we run the danger of a Kamala Harris and [Tim] Walz presidency as a result of we draw votes from Trump, or we draw someway extra votes from Trump,” Ms Shanahan, 38, stated on the Influence Concept with Tom Bilyeu podcast launched on Tuesday.

“Or we stroll away proper now and be part of forces with Donald Trump and you understand, we stroll away from that and we clarify to our base why we’re making this resolution.”

She stated it was “not a simple resolution”.

BBC Information has reached out to the Kennedy marketing campaign for readability on Ms Shanahan’s feedback.

In a publish on X, previously Twitter, on Tuesday, Mr Kennedy stated: “As at all times, I’m prepared to speak with leaders of any political occasion to additional the targets I’ve served for 40 years in my profession and on this marketing campaign.”

Mr Kennedy’s operating mate stated she trusts the way forward for the nation extra underneath the management of Trump, a Republican, than underneath the Democratic nominee, Vice-President Kamala Harris.

Ms Shanahan rejected latest experiences that the Kennedy marketing campaign had been in talks with the Harris group a few potential endorsement or cupboard place.

Getty Images Nicole Shanahan speaks during a campaign event in Oakland, California, on 26 March 2024 Getty Pictures

Nicole Shanahan stated “had we had a good shot we might have gained”

“That stated, we’ve provided to speak to everyone about what your insurance policies are, who’s going to be in your cupboard, do you need to hear any of our takes on coverage and what may work,” she stated.

She famous that former President Trump has taken a eager curiosity in a few of their marketing campaign’s insurance policies round persistent illness.

“For that motive, it behooves us to sit down and see if we are able to truly make some actual change and if that may be a unity occasion, I believe that it’s one thing that we completely owe to the American public to discover,” stated Ms Shanahan.

She additionally accused the Democratic occasion of “sabotage”, arguing that “had we had a good shot we might have gained”.

Ms Shanahan stated the Democrats “have banned us, shadow-banned us, saved us off stage, manipulated polls, sued us in each doable state,” and “planted insiders into our marketing campaign to disrupt it”.

The BBC has contacted the Democratic occasion for remark.

Media experiences over the previous couple of months have indicated that Mr Kennedy, 70, has provided to endorse the previous president in trade for a job in his subsequent administration.

A leaked cellphone name in July between the 2 candidates had Trump saying he would “love” Mr Kennedy “to do one thing” to help him.