(NewsNation) — Democrats and Republicans are both growing anxious as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pulls support from a different kind of electorate, becoming the highest polling independent candidate in the 2024 race.
Now, many are saying the longshot candidate could be a “spoiler” in the race if he can siphon off votes in key states. New polling from NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ shows RFK Jr. at 10%, higher than any independent candidate since 1992.
This is due, in part, to the large number of voters who are unhappy with the Biden-Trump rematch. With moderate voters looking for an alternative to the front-runners, RFK Jr. has bolstered support, particularly among independent women.
New reports say President Joe Biden’s campaign team and the Democratic National Committee are reportedly dedicating staffers and consultants to attacking Kennedy’s bid. Biden allies have also formed a new super PAC to minimize the influence of third-party candidates, according to Axios.
On the Republican side, former President Donald Trump’s team is also keeping an eye on RFK Jr. In October, the Republican National Committee posted an article calling Kennedy a “radical Democrat.”
Now, RFK Jr. is hoping for a boost in his support after he announces his pick for a running mate on Tuesday in Oakland, California.
“Having a vice president on the ticket shows that he’s moving forward,” Tony Lyons, co-founder of American Values, Kennedy’s super PAC, told The Hill in an interview this week. “Voters then get to see that he’s very serious about becoming president.”
Kennedy is making an unusually early announcement because of ballot access rules in many states that require independent candidates to name their vice presidential nominees before they can begin the process. Ballot access for independent candidates is an expensive and time-consuming endeavor, with rules varying widely across states.