Americans’ Views on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Recent polling data reveals that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., once a Democratic presidential hopeful, has seen a shift in public opinion, with Republicans showing more favor than Democrats. This change comes in the wake of his decision to suspend his campaign and endorse Republican nominee Donald Trump.
Kennedy’s Campaign and Its Challenges: Kennedy’s campaign struggled to find its footing, particularly after the departure of Democratic President Joe Biden from the race. With Kamala Harris stepping in as the Democratic nominee, Kennedy faced a dwindling support base. Polls showed that while some early surveys had Kennedy’s support in the double digits, it eventually dropped to mid-single digits. This decline raises questions about whether Kennedy’s continued presence in the race would have significantly impacted the overall election outcome.
Partisan Appeal: Kennedy’s appeal varies significantly across party lines. In recent months, Americans have been split in their views of the 70-year-old, who is the son of former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. A July AP-NORC poll, conducted before Biden exited the race, indicated that Kennedy’s favorability had decreased, with an equal number of respondents viewing him positively and negatively. Notably, Republicans were more likely than Democrats and independents to have a favorable opinion of Kennedy. Among those who viewed Kennedy favorably, a majority also held a positive view of Donald Trump.
Struggles with Political Independents: Despite running as an independent candidate, Kennedy had difficulty gaining the trust of political independents. Polls suggested that around 4 in 10 independents did not know enough about him to form an opinion. Of those who did, opinions were evenly split between favorable and unfavorable views.
The Base of Support: Kennedy’s support was largely driven by voters looking for an alternative to the Biden-Trump rematch. A Pew Research Center poll from July found that half of Kennedy’s supporters backed him primarily because he was neither Biden nor Trump. However, the shift in the Democratic ticket, with Harris as the nominee, may have further eroded his support, especially among women and non-white voters.
Kennedy’s Family Legacy: Kennedy initially leveraged his famous family name, hoping to attract voters familiar with his father, Robert F. Kennedy, and his uncle, former President John F. Kennedy. However, as his campaign progressed, it became clear that the Kennedy name alone was not enough to sustain broad support. Many members of the Kennedy family endorsed Biden, which likely influenced Democratic voters. John F. Kennedy remains one of the most highly rated former presidents, with his legacy crossing party lines and maintaining high approval across the political spectrum.
Kennedy’s Withdrawal: Kennedy’s withdrawal from the race follows a series of legal challenges, including a recent ruling in New York that removed him from the state’s ballot due to issues with his nominating petitions. Although Kennedy appealed the ruling, his campaign faced similar challenges in other states, ultimately leading to his decision to step down and endorse Trump.
The shifting views on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reflect the complexities of the 2024 presidential race. As Kennedy steps back, his impact on the election remains uncertain, but his endorsement of Donald Trump signals a significant realignment of his political stance. Whether his influence will carry weight among his supporters in the general election is yet to be seen.
