PHOENIX (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. withdrew from the poll in Arizona late Thursday, a day earlier than he and Donald Trump had been set to seem miles aside within the Phoenix space as hypothesis grows that Kennedy may drop his impartial presidential bid and endorse the Republican nominee.
Kennedy is scheduled to talk at 2 p.m. Japanese time in Phoenix “about the present historical moment and his path forward,” in response to his marketing campaign. Hours later, Trump will maintain a rally in neighboring Glendale.
Trump, campaigning Thursday in southern Arizona on the U.S.-Mexico border, stated that “no plans have been made” for Kennedy to seem with him on Friday. However he famous they might be in the identical metropolis on the identical time.
On Thursday night, Trump’s marketing campaign made an uncommon announcement, teasing that he can be joined by “a special guest” at his Glendale occasion.
Hours later when he known as into Fox Information Channel after the Democratic Nationwide Conference wrapped, Trump stated of Kennedy, “I have no idea if he’s going to endorse me.”
However he famous that they had been going to be in the identical state and stated, “It’s possible we will be meeting tomorrow and we’ll be discussing it.”
Representatives for Trump’s marketing campaign didn’t reply to messages about whether or not Kennedy can be the visitor and the Kennedy marketing campaign didn’t instantly return a message searching for remark if he can be becoming a member of Trump.
Kennedy’s Arizona withdrawal, confirmed by a spokesperson for the secretary of state, got here lower than per week after Kennedy submitted nicely greater than the required variety of signatures to seem on the poll. His critics raised questions in regards to the validity of a number of the signatures after a pro-Kennedy tremendous PAC was closely concerned in his effort to gather them, probably operating afoul of guidelines towards coordination between candidates and impartial political teams.
A 12 months in the past, some would have thought it inconceivable that Kennedy — a member of probably the most storied household in Democratic politics — would work with Trump to maintain a Democrat out of the White Home. Even in latest months, Kennedy has accused Trump of betraying his followers, whereas Trump has criticized Kennedy as “the most radical left candidate in the race.”
Jon Cherry through Getty Photos
However the two campaigns have ramped up their compliments to one another and engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions in latest weeks, in response to these aware of the efforts. Each campaigns have spent months accusing Democrats of weaponizing the authorized system for their very own profit. And each have hinted publicly that they might be open to becoming a member of forces, with the shared purpose of limiting the election possibilities of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Final month, in the course of the Republican Nationwide Conference, Kennedy’s son posted after which rapidly deleted a video displaying a telephone name between Kennedy and Trump, by which the previous president appeared to attempt to discuss Kennedy into siding with him.
Talks between the 2 camps have continued, with shut Trump allies quietly lobbying Kennedy to drop out of the race and assist the Republican nominee, in response to an individual aware of the efforts who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate personal conversations.
Trump informed CNN on Tuesday that he would “love” an endorsement from Kennedy, whom he known as a “brilliant guy.” He additionally stated he would “certainly” be open to Kennedy taking part in a job in his administration if Kennedy drops out and endorses him.
Kennedy’s operating mate, Nicole Shanahan, additionally brazenly instructed on a podcast this week that his marketing campaign may “walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump.” Whereas she clarified that she shouldn’t be personally in talks with Trump, she entertained the concept that Kennedy may be a part of Trump’s administration as secretary of the Division of Health and Human Companies.
“I think that Bobby in a role like that would be excellent,” Shanahan stated. “I fully support it. I have high hopes.”
Kennedy, a son of former Lawyer Common Robert F. Kennedy and a nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, hasn’t disclosed the rationale for his Friday remarks, however they arrive as his marketing campaign’s momentum has slipped.
Kennedy Jr. first entered the 2024 presidential race as a Democrat however left the celebration final fall to run as an impartial. He constructed an unusually sturdy base for a third-party bid, fueled partially by anti-establishment voters and vaccine skeptics who’ve adopted his anti-vaccine work for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic. However he has since confronted strained marketing campaign funds and mounting authorized challenges, together with a latest ruling from a New York decide that he mustn’t seem on the poll within the state as a result of he listed a “sham” handle on nominating petitions.
Latest polls put his assist within the mid-single digits. And it’s unclear if he’d get even that in a common election, since third-party candidates steadily don’t stay as much as their early ballot numbers when voters truly forged their ballots.
There’s some proof that Kennedy’s staying within the race would harm Trump greater than Harris. Based on a July AP-NORC ballot, Republicans had been considerably extra probably than Democrats to have a positive view of Kennedy. And people with a constructive impression of Kennedy had been considerably extra prone to even have a positive view of Trump (52%) than Harris (37%).
In an interview with MSNBC on the Democratic Nationwide Conference in Chicago on Thursday, Harris communications director Michael Tyler stated her marketing campaign welcomes Kennedy voters ought to the impartial candidate drop out.
For voters who see Trump as a risk, who’re on the lookout for a brand new manner ahead, or who need “government to get the hell out of the way of their own personal decisions, there’s a home for you in Kamala Harris’ campaign,” Tyler stated.
For Trump, Friday will mark the tip of per week’s value of battleground state visits by which he has sought to attract consideration away from Democrats’ celebration of Harris’ presidential nomination in Chicago.
He traveled to Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina and Arizona’s U.S.-Mexico border for occasions targeted on his coverage proposals on the financial system, crime and security, nationwide safety and the border. He’ll shut out the week Friday with stops in Las Vegas and Glendale.
Related Press writers Jill Colvin in New York, Michelle L. Worth in Phoenix, Meg Kinnard in Chicago and Linley Sanders in Washington contributed to this report.
The Related Press receives assist from a number of personal foundations to reinforce its explanatory protection of elections and democracy. See extra about AP’s democracy initiative right here. The AP is solely accountable for all content material.
