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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made a major campaign move just a few days after he announced he was shunning his Democratic label and mounting an independent presidential run.
After RFK Jr. made his announcement, former Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich announced he was stepping down as campaign manager, reports said.
“He was replaced by Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, a former undercover CIA agent who is married to Mr. Kennedy’s son, Robert F. Kennedy III,” The Epoch Times reported.
Last week, Kucinich confirmed that he had stepped down but would not discuss any of the campaign’s internal workings or communication, the outlet said.
Earlier this year, Kucinich told The Epoch Times that Kennedy “is the only Democrat who can reach across the political spectrum, which means he can win in 2024.”
“Conservatives, liberals, independents, and libertarians are responding to this campaign because of the unique qualities of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and because there is an understanding he stands for unity, freedom, truth, and authenticity,” Kucinich added. “That is what’s resonating with people.”
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But after the Democratic Party announced it would not hold any primary debates, effectively shielding the aged Biden from having to fend off criticism of his record in public forums, Kennedy made a decision to leave the party and go independent for his run.
Kennedy released a statement in which he called Kucinich “a moral center in American politics for more than five decades,” according to The Epoch Times.
“The campaign benefited enormously from the political experience of Dennis Kucinich. This campaign would never have experienced tremendous success during the past six months except for the leadership, wisdom, and experience he brought. We will continue to profit from his advice and judgment as we go forward,” he added.
Kennedy made his decision to go independent late last month.
“Bobby feels that the DNC is changing the rules to exclude his candidacy, so an independent run is the only way to go,” a Kennedy campaign insider told left-wing outlet Mediaite.
Kennedy has apparently been considering the idea of a third-party bid for weeks after the DNC announced they would not schedule any primary debates after RFK Jr. and Maryanne Williamson filed to run for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The New York Times reported earlier in September that he met with the chair of the Libertarian Party, “raising the prospect of a departure from the party that decades ago became synonymous with his family name,” Mediaite noted.
While Kennedy has been polling far behind Biden, he has managed to secure close to 20 percent support in several polls as other surveys have shown a vast majority of Democratic voters increasingly concerned about Biden’s mental fitness. The fear among Democrats is that Kennedy will pull votes from Biden, though some conservatives have spoken favorably of his campaign.
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon said in July he thought that RFK Jr. could be Trump’s running mate.
Bannon said he recently did a Q&A session and that someone asked him for his thoughts on Kennedy, Jr.
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“Somebody asked about Robert F. Kennedy and the great speech at Hillsdale, his opening speech, and what did I think about his prospects,” Bannon began.
“And I said, ‘Look, I’m a Kari Lake person, but if Kari Lake becomes governor, as she should if this court case, or if not, she runs for the Senate. If she’s not available to be Trump’s VP that Bobby Kennedy would be, I think, an excellent choice for President Trump to consider. There was a standing ovation and this was a very hardcore MAGA war room posse crowd,” Bannon explained.
“I think that that is a signal to the political elites in this country that something very different is going on. And I thought it was quite extraordinary. Robert Kennedy Jr. has huge support for the American populist movement. Look for the GOP elites to start their attacks on Bobby any day now,” Bannon continued.
