Special Poll
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Friday that he is suspending his campaign and throwing his support behind former President Donald Trump. While Kennedy’s name will still appear on the ballot in most states, he plans to withdraw from the ballot in key swing states where his presence could potentially impact the election results.
In Pennsylvania, court records indicated that Kennedy initiated the process to remove his name from the ballot and publicly declared his endorsement of Trump just before addressing the media. Earlier that day, Kennedy also moved to withdraw his name from the ballot in Arizona.
During a lengthy press conference, Kennedy expressed his frustration with the Democratic Party and the media, claiming that his campaign had not been treated fairly. Despite his decision to support Trump and withdraw from crucial states, Kennedy emphasized that his campaign was not entirely over.
“I want everyone to know that I am not terminating my campaign,” Kennedy stated at his rally. “I am simply suspending it and not ending it. My name will remain on the ballot in most states.”
Prior to his Arizona appearance, reports indicated that Kennedy would suspend his campaign in critical swing states but would not entirely drop out of the race. In Phoenix, Kennedy addressed his supporters, explaining that he would halt his campaign in 10 key battleground states.
“In my heart, I no longer believe that I have a realistic path to electoral victory in the face of this relentless, systematic censorship and media control,” he said. “So I cannot, in good conscience, ask my staff and volunteers to keep working their long hours or ask my donors to keep giving when I cannot honestly tell them that I have a real path to the White House.”
Kennedy also mentioned that he had discussions with Trump about potentially joining forces, describing it as a “unity party.” This decision came amid growing questions about the future of Kennedy’s campaign. His critics have often pointed out that his much-anticipated rallies sometimes fall short of expectations, and the hours leading up to the Phoenix event were no different.
Reports also suggested that there was internal disagreement within Kennedy’s camp about the best way forward, with some advisors acknowledging that he had little chance of winning the presidency in November. Even in the final hours before his speech, there was a lack of consensus among Kennedy’s inner circle regarding his political strategy and the future of the independent movement he was trying to lead.
Some of Kennedy’s supporters who favored endorsing Trump saw potential benefits, such as a possible role in a future administration or increased influence within the Republican Party. Others, however, were concerned that abandoning the campaign would undermine the significant investments made by third-party donors and the ballot access infrastructure they had helped build.
Meanwhile, Trump seemed to boost Kennedy’s profile ahead of his appearance in Arizona, telling Fox News that they planned to meet and discuss a possible endorsement, though he remained vague about the details.
Democrats, anticipating Kennedy’s potential exit from the race and his support for Trump, had been preparing for this possibility. On the morning of Kennedy’s planned speech, the Democratic National Committee circulated a memo highlighting Kennedy’s declining poll numbers and his vulnerabilities as a candidate.
Kennedy’s campaign, which initially gained traction with voters dissatisfied with both major parties, struggled to maintain momentum as Election Day approached. He faced challenges in securing ballot access in multiple states, which became a significant hurdle for his campaign and a sticking point in discussions with the Trump camp.
Throughout his campaign, Kennedy tried to position himself as a truly independent candidate, attracting a diverse team of advisors and supporters from across the political spectrum. However, as the campaign progressed, he found it increasingly difficult to maintain his early momentum and appeal to voters.