California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a warning for President Joe Biden on Sunday about independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s effort to be on the ballot in this year’s election.
Former President Donald Trump and Biden have clinched the nominations of the Republican and Democratic parties, respectively, with each having won a majority of the state primary contests as they seek reelection this year to a second term. However, a 2020 rematch is an unpopular one, with voters routinely telling pollsters that they believe that neither one should be seeking another term for various reasons. Hypothetical general election match-ups have generally shown the two neck-and-neck, on average.
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Kennedy Jr., who is running as an independent candidate after initially planning to run as a Democrat, continues to work to get his name on the ballot in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., ahead of November’s general election.
On Thursday, Kennedy Jr. secured a place on the ballot in the battleground state of Michigan, according to state officials. Michigan is the second state after Utah to affirm that his name will be presented to voters and is a crucial step for the success of his campaign.
During an interview appearance on Sunday on MSNBC’s Inside with Jen Psaki, Newsom and Psaki discussed Kennedy Jr.’s secured place on the Michigan ballot.
“How worried are you about the potential impact of RFK Jr. on President Biden’s reelection chances?” Psaki asked the Democratic governor.
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“He’s a Kennedy. We revere Kennedy’s, at least I do. That’s real and I know we can look at some polls. But at the end of the day, common sense would dictate its real…Bobby Kennedy Jr., if he gets on [the ballot] in more than just that one critical swing state of Michigan, and gets on the ballot in some of these others, I think you have to take that very, very seriously,” Newsom warned.
Newsweek has reached out to Biden’s campaign and Kennedy Jr.’s campaign via email for comment.
Newsom has spent the last year turning down speculation he would run for president in 2024, instead saying that he’d be supporting Biden’s reelection bid. Earlier this year, the governor hit the campaign trail for the president on a three-day tour with stops in South Carolina and Nevada.
Third-party and independent candidates have long faced odds amid a political system largely built around two major parties, with Kennedy Jr. previously urging Americans to “take a risk” and vote for him.
Newsom’s warning comes as Democrats have voiced concerns that Kennedy Jr. could siphon away votes from Biden in November, though polls suggest it’s unclear whether he would be a bigger threat to Biden or Trump’s chances of victory.
Read More : Horoscopes and Lucky Numbers for today, Thursday 18 April 2024
Polls suggest Biden and Trump are unpopular, and that Kennedy is viewed as the independent or third-party candidate with the greatest amount of support, though his stances on issues such as vaccinations and abortion may make it more difficult for him to resonate with Democratic voters who are dissatisfied with Biden.
Newsom also explained the importance of seven swing states for Biden and what the chances look like for him.
“Now we got seven potential in play, Georgia, North Carolina, we know are going to be perhaps a little more tough than they have been in the past, but we are making a great case. Pennsylvania, the president is a master class of focus on Pennsylvania and then we got to these other states like Wisconsin, I think we have a great shot there. And then these last three, Michigan, Nevada and Arizona where I’m putting in all my time and energy and focus,” Newsom added.
Newsweek about the importance of Kennedy Jr. getting on the ballot, saying that Biden should be concerned since Kennedy Jr.’s economic policies and family could win over some Democratic voters.
“If the election is close, which it is expected to be, then any third-party candidate who can get even a little traction is a concern,” Reeher said.
Meanwhile, multiple polls published in March showed promising numbers for Biden, including leads or stalemates in consequential battleground states including Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan. The polls give Biden a slight lead on a national basis ranging from one to three points, though it isn’t clear if it would give him an overall victory due to the Electoral College.
