The endorsement has sparked reactions from various quarters. Some conservatives see it as a strategic move that could consolidate support among voters skeptical of the current administration’s policies. However, the impact on the overall election dynamics remains to be seen, as Kennedy’s support base is considered diverse and not easily categorized along traditional party lines( POLITICO and Just The News
In a surprising twist that has sent ripples through the political landscape, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., once a steadfast Democrat and former independent presidential hopeful, threw his weight behind former President Donald Trump. This unexpected endorsement, announced last Friday, has ignited debates and stirred up a storm of reactions from all corners of the political spectrum. But for those who think Kennedy’s endorsement is inconsequential, CNN anchor Erin Burnett had a pointed message.
CNN’s Erin Burnett reacts to RFK’s endorsement of Trump: “The latest swing state polls show Kennedy with 5 or 6 percent of the vote. Now you might say, that’s not a big deal… Actually, if that’s the case, it is HUGE — it is everything” pic.twitter.com/773wMXdjqG
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) August 23, 2024
Appearing on her show, Burnett took a firm stance, addressing skeptics who might dismiss Kennedy’s move as insignificant. “The latest swing state polls show Kennedy with five or six percent of the vote,” she informed her viewers with a tone that conveyed both urgency and clarity. Her point was clear: in the tight battlegrounds that decide elections, even a few percentage points could be game-changing. “And so, when you think about it overall, and they say, ‘Well, that’s not a big deal.’ Actually, if that is the case in swing states, it is huge. It is everything. It is more than the margin between Harris and Trump in some of those same states.”
Burnett underscored her argument by citing recent polling data from a New York Times/Siena College survey. The poll showed Kennedy garnering 6% support in crucial states like Arizona and Nevada and 5% in other battlegrounds such as Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. In these tightly contested states, Kennedy’s small but significant slice of the electorate could very well tilt the scales in a close race.
Kennedy’s decision to endorse Trump came after a tumultuous campaign journey. Initially, he had launched his presidential bid as a Democrat, directly challenging President Biden in the primaries. However, feeling sidelined by his own party, Kennedy pivoted to an independent run, seeking to appeal to a broader spectrum of voters. But in a dramatic turn, he chose to support Trump, a move that was met with both shock and praise, depending on where one stood politically.
Even CNN’s Erin Burne admits how ‘huge’ an RFK bump may be for Trump
“Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s endorsement of former President Donald Trump is driving the left out of their gourds.”
CNN’s Erin Burnett:
“It is huge ~ it is everything.”Via: RShttps://t.co/27yJccor7r pic.twitter.com/REJQeKv5Th
— Gary D (@KMGGaryde) August 24, 2024
The endorsement was announced at a Trump rally in Glendale, Arizona, where Kennedy was greeted enthusiastically by the crowd. His presence on stage alongside Trump symbolized a stark departure from his family’s storied Democratic legacy—Kennedy, after all, is the nephew of President John F. Kennedy and the son of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, both icons of the Democratic Party who were tragically assassinated.
The timing of Kennedy’s announcement was particularly notable. It came at a moment when the news cycle was heavily focused on Vice President Kamala Harris accepting the Democratic nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, just weeks after President Biden unexpectedly withdrew from the race. Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump not only overshadowed Harris’s nomination but also reframed the narrative of the election, injecting a new element of unpredictability into the race.
During his withdrawal speech, Kennedy did not hold back in his criticism of what he termed the “media organs” of the Democratic Party. He accused them of working in tandem with the Democratic establishment to marginalize his campaign and boost Harris’s visibility. “Over the course of more than a year… the DNC-aligned mainstream media networks maintained a near-perfect embargo on interviews with me,” he lamented, drawing a stark contrast with the media landscape faced by independent candidate Ross Perot in 1992. “During his 10-month presidential campaign in 1992, Ross Perot gave 34 interviews on mainstream networks. In contrast, during the 16 months since I declared, ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, and CNN combined gave only two live interviews [with] me.”
While Kamala Hides After The DNC: “The latest swing state polls show Robert Kennedy Jr. with 5 or 6 percent of the vote. Now you might say, that’s not a big deal. Actually, if that’s the case, it is HUGE! it is everything.” CNN’s Erin Burnett reacts to RFK’s endorsement of Trump. pic.twitter.com/0C342qDyM0
— John Cremeans USA (@JohnCremeansUSA) August 24, 2024
Kennedy also accused these networks of flooding the airwaves with negative coverage, which he described as “a continuous deluge of hit pieces with inaccurate, often vile pejoratives and defamatory smears.” He claimed that some of these outlets even collaborated with the Democratic National Committee to prevent him from appearing on the debate stage, effectively stifling his voice and candidacy.
This controversial endorsement by Kennedy has undeniably reshaped the electoral landscape, forcing both parties to reassess their strategies as they head toward the final stretch of the campaign. As Erin Burnett highlighted, the impact of Kennedy’s support for Trump could be monumental, particularly in swing states where every vote counts. In a political environment where margins of victory are razor-thin, the “huge” endorsement from Kennedy might indeed be everything.
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Kennedy’s decision came after a period of speculation and discussion with Trump’s campaign team. He stated that he would remain on the ballot in several states but withdraw from key battleground states to avoid splitting the vote, which he felt could impact Trump’s chances against Vice President Kamala Harris. RFK Jr.’s endorsement is seen as a potential boon for Trump, particularly in attracting Kennedy’s supporters, who may lean towards conservative views on issues like vaccine mandates and government overreach POLITICO and Advocate.com
Major Points
- RFK Jr. endorses Trump, shaking the political landscape with his surprising support.
- Erin Burnett emphasizes the potential impact of Kennedy’s 5-6% support in key swing states.
- Kennedy’s shift from an independent candidate to a Trump supporter marks a dramatic departure from his family’s Democratic roots.
- The endorsement overshadowed Kamala Harris’s nomination and reshaped the election narrative.
- Kennedy criticizes media bias, claiming a lack of fair coverage and debates during his campaign.
Lap Fu Ip – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
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