It’s been a rough few days for RFK Jr. as things seem to be coming off the rails for the spoiler campaign. If this week was any indication, it’s going to be a long summer for RFK Jr. as his campaign struggles to raise money, recruit volunteers, and meet debate criteria.
“After weeks of lying to his bubble of online supporters about his eligibility for the CNN debate stage, this week RFK Jr. had his bubble burst when he failed to make the debate stage, none of his billionaire friends decided to write him a check, and his running mate completely embarrassed the campaign in her first major television interview,” said American Bridge 21st Century Presidential Campaigns Communications Director, Brandon Weathersby. “People are starting to sift through the smoke and mirrors to finally see this campaign for what it is: a spoiler campaign with no chance at success in November.”
Recaping RFK Jr.’s rough week in June:
- Over the weekend, Politico was the first to report that RFK Jr.’s campaign was struggling to fundraise at all levels. According to the report, the campaign has tried several gimmicks to bring in donations including paying supporters to sell merchandise and help raise funds. An analysis done by Politico shows without the $10 million donation from billionaire’s running mate, Nicole Shanhan, the campaign would be in debt.
- Two days ahead of the deadline to meet CNN’s debate criteria, the Washington Post published a scathing review of RFK Jr.’s false claim that he appears on enough statewide ballots to participate in the debate. The Washington Post’s survey of state election officials found Kennedy is not on the ballot in several states where he has claimed he is.
- After the deadline passed, CNN officially announced that RFK Jr. would not appear on the debate stage. The news prompted an unhinged, Trump-like response from RFK Jr. where he threatened legal action and claimed CNN staff “planning, executing, and holding this debate” could see “serious jail time.”
- The same day, the Nevada Democratic Party filed a complaint against the campaign arguing they do not qualify for ballot access in Nevada under statutes that define an independent candidate as someone who is not registered with any political party. RFK Jr. is a registered Democrat in New York and accepted the nomination of several minor parties, including the American Independent Party in California and the Natural Law Party in Michigan.
- Bookending the terrible week for the RFK Jr. campaign was his running mate Nicole Shanahan’s disastrous television interview in which she defended the overturning of Roe and said she wanted to end all vaccine mandates for children. In a Sarah Palin-esque moment, Shanahan cited her understanding of how we “build batteries around the world” as proof of her foreign policy bonafides.
Published: Jun 21, 2024