Trump seems to think so
Of course that means he’s actually a bit worried about Bobby.
When voters learn more about independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., he’ll take votes away from Donald Trump in the general election, a pollster told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Friday.
Sarah Longwell of the Republican Accountability Project said she recently administered two focus groups on Kennedy’s candidacy.
“I specifically did former Biden voters, who were leaning toward RFK, and Trump voters who were leaning toward RFK, and it’s crazy because it’s like a Rorschach test,” Longwell said, continuing:
He’s such a wildcard that, the Dems will tell you they love his positions on conservation and the environment. He’s really good on those. And Republicans will tell you they love the way he’s beating up on Democrats as what they perceive to be a Democrat, because his last name is Kennedy, and they love his position on being anti-vax. And so, right now, and because he’s a Kennedy, there’s from the Dems a sense of, he is a Democrat.
So he’s pulling from both right now, but comments like this, ultimately, if I were Donald Trump, I would be very concerned that when voters become more educated on who RFK is, that he will pull much more from the MAGA anti-vax right.
The “comments” Longwell referred to came in the form of a statement Friday where Kennedy tried to explain his stance on the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. In it, he claimed the rioters received “harsh treatment” through the “vigor” of their prosecutions and “long sentences.” He also claimed the rioters had no weapons, but court records show authorities confiscated everything from guns to Tasers.
Longwell added, “Here’s the thing: I think that anybody who splits the broad anti-Trump coalition is dangerous. And, so, if you asked me my preference, it would be that RFK wasn’t in there. But I do think once Dems are done, sort of educating people about this guy, he will take more from Trump than from Biden.”
I’ve always felt that way (but I wouldn’t put money on it.) He’s a conspiracy theorist nutcase and while there are some of those in the Democratic coalition, the GOP is the party making a profit at it.
Keep in mind that there’s a whole GOP sub-cult around JFK Jr that believes he actually survived the plane crash and is making a dramatic return to American life. If they’re daft enough to believe that I could easily see them thinking that RFK Jr is JFKJr or that he’s planning to bring him into the cabinet. Or something. In other words, these nuts are far more likely to be right wingers and they are far more likely to think RFK Jr is their guy. If the left turns on Biden I would expect them to go to Jill Stein as they always do. They are still at least somewhat tethered to actual politics.
On the other hand, the RFK brain trust certainly sees lefties as a target:
I have read that Democrats are taking this seriously. I certainly hope that’s true.