August 22nd 2024.
Sources with knowledge of the situation have revealed that Robert F Kennedy Jr, an independent candidate for president, is planning to suspend his campaign at an event in Arizona on Friday. There have been discussions between Kennedy's team and representatives from Republican nominee Donald Trump's camp about the possibility of Kennedy endorsing Trump and making an appearance at his rally in Phoenix on the same night.
CNN has reached out to the Kennedy campaign for comment, but they have yet to respond. Kennedy's campaign had announced earlier today that he would be giving a speech in Phoenix, but did not disclose the topic. This news comes just days after Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan, hinted in a podcast interview that they were considering teaming up with Trump to prevent Vice President Kamala Harris from winning the election.
Trump himself expressed openness to having Kennedy play a role in his administration if he were to drop out and endorse him. In a recent interview with CNN, Trump praised Kennedy as a brilliant and smart individual whom he has known for a long time. Discussions between Trump's team and Kennedy's team began before the Republican National Convention in July, and have continued since then.
According to sources, Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr, had been pushing for his father and the Trump campaign to find a way to convince Kennedy to end his campaign. Other influential figures, such as former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and businessman Omeed Malik, have also been involved in facilitating these talks. The focus of these discussions has been whether or not having Kennedy's endorsement would benefit Trump's campaign. With President Joe Biden dropping out of the race and Harris becoming the Democratic nominee, many in Trump's circle now see Kennedy's support as a valuable asset.
Despite initial attacks and criticisms from Kennedy towards Trump, the two have grown closer in recent months. In July, they spoke on the phone and then met in person the next day at the Republican National Convention. During these conversations, the idea of Kennedy dropping out of the race and endorsing Trump in exchange for a role in his administration was first discussed. However, Kennedy ultimately decided not to drop out.
Earlier this month, Kennedy's campaign also approached Harris' team about a potential endorsement in exchange for a future role in her administration, but this meeting never took place. This Friday's speech will be Kennedy's first public event since July, as his campaign has struggled to gain momentum since Harris became the Democratic nominee. A recent poll showed Harris with 47% support, Trump with 44%, and Kennedy with only 5%.
The Kennedy campaign has also faced financial difficulties, with reports showing that they only have $3.9 million on hand and nearly $3.5 million in outstanding debts. This has caused concern among both Democrats and Republicans about Kennedy's potential impact on the race, especially in key battleground states where every vote counts. While it is unclear if Kennedy has drawn more support from Biden or Trump, his team believes they have attracted more voters from the latter.
In Arizona, where Friday's event will take place, Kennedy's popularity could play a crucial role in a state that was decided by a margin of just 11,000 votes in the 2020 election. A recent poll showed Harris in the lead with 45%, followed closely by Trump with 42%, and Kennedy with only 6% support. The Arizona Secretary of State's office has confirmed that Kennedy has qualified for the ballot in the state, and he is currently on the ballot in 21 states, making him eligible for 257 electoral votes.
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