Apr 28, 2024,10:45am EDT
Former President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Sunday, labeling him a “Radical Left Lunatic” and asserting that he is “far more LIBERAL than anyone running as a Democrat.” This comes as both candidates aim to associate Kennedy with the opposing party in the lead-up to the November elections.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social early Sunday, Trump claimed to have watched Kennedy Jr. on “Real Time With Bill Maher” and characterized him as “far more LIBERAL than Maher” and other Democratic contenders. Trump expressed cynicism about Kennedy’s prospects, noting that the Democrats “threw him out of the Party” for siphoning primary votes from Biden.
Continuing his assault on Kennedy, Trump took to Truth Social again on Friday night, alleging that Kennedy is a “plant” from the left intended to assist Biden’s re-election bid. He argued that a vote for Kennedy Jr. would amount to “a WASTED PROTEST VOTE, that could swing either way.”
Concerns loom among both Republicans and Democrats regarding Kennedy potentially drawing votes away from their respective candidates in a closely contested race, where even slight shifts in voter allegiance could influence the election outcome.
Despite initial polling suggesting Kennedy Jr. posed a greater threat to Trump than Biden, a recent CNN poll revealed that Kennedy drew 13% of support from both Biden and Trump supporters. The poll, conducted by SSRS, indicated Trump maintaining a lead over Biden in a head-to-head race, with 49% to 43%.
Kennedy responded to Trump’s criticism on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, dismissing Trump’s tirade as a “barely coherent barrage of wild and inaccurate claims” and inviting him to engage in a respectful debate. He criticized Trump’s tenure, accusing him of betraying his followers’ hopes by failing to address issues such as the Ukraine conflict, escalating debt, and constitutional breaches.
In light of recent history where third-party candidates have been blamed for altering election outcomes, political strategists on both sides are increasingly wary of Kennedy’s potential impact. While initial concerns focused on Kennedy diluting support for Biden, Trump’s recent attacks indicate growing Republican apprehension. Polling data from Quinnipiac University and NBC News suggest Kennedy’s supporters are more likely to lean towards Trump in a two-way race, highlighting the complexity of his influence in the upcoming election.