Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expected to announce wealthy female entrepreneur as vice presidential running mate
Category: News & Politics
Via: vic-eldred • 7 months ago • 20 commentsBy: Brandon GillespiePaul Steinhauser (Fox News)
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is expected to announce his presidential running mate on Tuesday.
According to several reports, Kennedy intends to name attorney and entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan as his vice presidential candidate in an announcement scheduled for Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET in Oakland, California. The New York Times and NBC News reported that Kennedy selected Shanahan after considering several possible candidates, citing sources close to Kennedy's campaign.
The 38-year-old Shanahan is an Oakland native who was previously married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan.(Getty Images)
Shanahan told The New York Times last month that she contributed roughly $4 million to the Kennedy-aligned American Values 2024, to help the super PAC produce and run an ad supporting Kennedy that aired during the Super Bowl.
Going forward, Shanahan's wealth and ties to major donors would likely benefit Kennedy as he aims to improve his fundraising efforts.
Kennedy, a longtime environmental activist and high-profile vaccine skeptic who is a scion of one of the nation's most storied political dynasties, is trying to convince voters across the nation to forgo support for either of the two major political parties, and elect the first independent presidential candidate since George Washington.
It was rumored prior to the announcement that Kennedy was also considering New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura — who was elected as a third-party candidate — and "Dirty Jobs" star Mike Rowe.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. hosts a fireside chat with rapper and producer Eric B. at The Gentleman's Factory on February 18, 2024 in New York City.(John Nacion/Getty Images)
Choosing a vice president candidate could add a boost in support for Kennedy, though many within the Democratic establishment anticipated his campaign to wane early on.
Kennedy initially launched his presidential bid as a Democrat last April, but he later announced an independent run in October after the Democratic National Committee (DNC) said it would not hold primary debates and was standing behind incumbent President Biden.
Democrats are worried Kennedy's candidacy hurts Biden's chances at being re-elected, leading the DNC to launch a team earlier this month solely dedicated to combating his presidential bid, as well as those of independent presidential candidate Dr. Cornel West, and Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein.
The naming of a running mate will likely boost Kennedy in his goal to get on the presidential ballot in all 50 states, as he needs a running mate to qualify in numerous states.
From left to right: Dr. Cornel West, Dr. Jill Stein, President Joe Biden and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.(Fox News)
With a little over seven months to go until the presidential election, Utah is the only state where Kennedy's name is confirmed. His campaign says he has secured enough signatures to land on the ballot in New Hampshire and Hawaii.
But on the eve of the running mate announcement, Kennedy ran into a major snag in Nevada, after state election officials said that the signatures his campaign gathered may be invalid due to a lack of a running mate. The campaign fired back, claiming that Democrats were trying to keep him off the ballot in the key western battleground state.
The latest RealClearPolitics average of polls has Kennedy reaching 15% in a three-way race against Biden and former President Donald Trump. The average shows Trump ahead of Biden by 4 points.
A five-way race including West and Stein has Kennedy's support at 11%, with Trump having a 2-point advantage over Biden.
The media is ignoring him. He needs to do more.
He is not a chosen one. That would be shotgun Joe. Like Hillary before him. To be crowned King or Queen of the liberal agenda by the mass media and the progressive collective.
When Trump wins, the whine will be epic and the folks who whined that our duly elected President needs to be accepted, will not accept him.
SOSDD ….
Well at least you got that part right
Which speaks volumes for that crew.
He is currently negotiating to be the Libertarian candidate,
Ride an escalator with a Princess at his side? Already been done.
I'm glad you asked. She is the x-wife of a Google founder and is a huge donor.
She'll bring the much-needed money to the campaign. She is young & smart.
I know who she is as well as I know neither you nor I would vote that ticket.
'who is a scion of one of the nation's most storied political dynasties'
Is scion a synonym for embarrassment to the Kennedy family/dynasty/name?
He's a whackjob who doesn't stand a chance.
Brilliant move by him . choose someone that no one has ever heard of. Then there's nowhere to go but up - or down, or backwards.
She'll be the first vice presidential candidate that 99.9% of the population has never heard of.
Interesting counter intuitive strategy
Well, virtually unknown, photogenic, and rich. It only shows that just because you are the latter two does not mean that one is smart.
Just SELF FUNDING!
Even more towards the same end.
She has the money he needs.
The DNC is petrified btw. Kennedy is polling nationally at 12.5%
They have put veteran operative Lis Smith (the Luca Brasi of the democrat party) in charge of defeating all 3rd party challengers. Lis will follow orders and go headfirst after Kennedy.
You will need to move that decimal point left come october.
RFK Jr is ineffectual, a flea on an elephant's ass...
Any good deeds he did in the past related to his environmentalism (when was he last active in that regard I have to wonder while they still tout his environmentalism - the only positive thing about the whackjob) is far undone by his whackjobbery.
That happens to be a big deal for many democrats.
Fortunately it was a big deal for many conservatives when federal parks were instituted.
He is a little to the left, a little to the right and a little exotic. There are people who will take his road rather than all of the above.