CNN
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Impartial presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduced at a information convention in Phoenix Friday that he’s suspending his marketing campaign and endorsing Trump.
“In my coronary heart, I not imagine that I’ve a sensible path of electoral victory within the face of this relentless, systematic censorship and media management. So I can’t, in good conscience, ask my employees and volunteers to maintain working their lengthy hours, or ask my donors to maintain giving after I can’t truthfully inform them that I’ve an actual path to the White Home,” he stated.
Kennedy then stated he’ll now “throw my help to President Trump.”
“Three nice causes drove me to enter this race within the first place, primarily, and these are the principal causes that persuaded me to go away the Democratic Get together and run as an impartial, and now to throw my help to President Trump,” he stated.
Kennedy insisted that he was not ending his marketing campaign, however he famous that he’ll withdraw his title from showing on ballots in swing states.
“My title will stay on the poll in most states. Should you dwell in a blue state, you possibly can vote for me with out harming — or serving to — President Trump or Vice President Harris. In pink states, the identical will apply,” he stated. “… However, in about 10 battleground states, the place my presence can be a spoiler, I’m going to take away my title, and I’ve already began that course of and urge voters to not vote for me.”
He additionally stated that he believed he may find yourself within the White Home if there’s a contingent election, which might happen if neither of the key occasion candidates acquired the 270 votes essential to win the election.
Kennedy later appeared as a “particular visitor” at Trump’s personal occasion in Phoenix.
Kennedy working mate Nicole Shanahan praised him following his announcement and urged him to “save our youngsters” in a social media put up.
Shanahan, who was not in attendance on the Phoenix occasion, thanked Kennedy for working and referred to as being part of his marketing campaign “one in all my best honors.“
“You sparked a motion that hundreds of thousands of People had been eager for. It has been one in all my best honors to run this race with you,” she stated. “It has been awe-inspiring to witness the fearlessness you confirmed within the face of censorship, blatant lies about your character, and even threats towards your life. Save our youngsters, Bobby.”
Her assertion comes after Kennedy stated that Trump supplied him a job in his administration and advised the function would oversee a well being care portfolio.
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CNN reporter on why Trump sought RFK Jr.’s endorsement
Kennedy stated the provide got here in two conferences with Trump, first within the days after the assassination try on the previous president in July, and a second assembly weeks later.
“In these conferences, he advised that we be part of forces as a unity occasion. We talked about Abraham Lincoln’s crew of rivals, that association would permit us to disagree publicly and privately and furiously, if want be on points over which we differ, whereas working collectively on the existential points upon which we’re in concordance,” he stated.
Kennedy’s announcement got here shortly after a courtroom submitting in Pennsylvania stated he was withdrawing from a poll entry problem within the state “on account of in the present day’s endorsement” of former President Donald Trump.
Earlier Friday, Kennedy’s marketing campaign stated he hadn’t endorsed Trump, and the legal professional who made the submitting, Paul Rossi, stated that he had “misstated” the candidate’s plans after which filed an amended discover.
However Kennedy’s help for Trump was clear Friday afternoon. He famous throughout his Friday remarks that the previous president had requested to “enlist him in his administration.”
Dicky Barrett, a musician from Massachusetts and avid Kennedy backer, expressed some disappointment that Kennedy won’t see his marketing campaign all through to November.
“Is there one other candidate that I really feel remotely as enthusiastic about? No,” he stated.
Casey Westerman, an Arizona-based Kennedy supporter who has beforehand voted for Trump, advised CNN earlier than Kennedy’s announcement she would fortunately vote for the previous president once more if Kennedy endorsed him.
“I imply, if he does, that may be implausible,” she stated.
Democratic Nationwide Committee senior adviser Mary Beth Cahill referred to as Kennedy a “failed fringe candidate” and advised his endorsement of Trump received’t profit his marketing campaign.
“The extra voters discovered about RFK Jr. the much less they favored him. Donald Trump isn’t incomes an endorsement that’s going to assist construct help, he’s inheriting the luggage of a failed fringe candidate. Good riddance,” she stated.
Members of Kennedy’s household who criticized his presidential marketing campaign and endorsed Harris condemned Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump.
Kennedy’s siblings Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Chris Kennedy and Rory Kennedy stated in an announcement the endorsement marked “a tragic ending to a tragic story.”
“We wish an America stuffed with hope and certain collectively by a shared imaginative and prescient of a brighter future, a future outlined by particular person freedom, financial promise and nationwide pleasure. We imagine in Harris and Walz. Our brother Bobby’s determination to endorse Trump in the present day is a betrayal of the values that our father and household maintain most pricey. It’s a unhappy ending to a tragic story,” the assertion stated.
This story has been up to date with extra reporting.