Mr. Kennedy's unexpected support is expected to help Mr. Trump turn the tables in his fierce competition with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the US presidential election on November 5.
Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces his decision to drop out of the race and endorse Donald Trump in Phoenix, Arizona, USA on August 23, 2024. Photo: Reuters
Mr Kennedy said he had met Mr Trump and the former US president's aides many times and knew they agreed on issues such as border security, free speech and ending wars.
"There are still many issues and approaches where we still have serious disagreements. But we have agreed on other important issues," he told a news conference.
Mr Kennedy said he would withdraw his name from the ballot in 10 battleground states that could decide the election outcome and remain a candidate in other states.
An environmental lawyer and nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy entered the race in April 2023 as a challenger to President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination.
With both Biden and Trump facing tough times at the time, Kennedy’s interest in the race skyrocketed. He later changed his plans and decided to run as an independent.
A November 2023 Reuters/Ipsos poll found that Mr. Kennedy had the support of 20% of Americans in a three-way race with Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump will join forces in the hope of defeating Kamala Harris in this year's US presidential election. Photo: Reuters
For a time, both the Biden and Trump campaigns worried that Kennedy could sway the election by taking voters away from the Democratic and Republican candidates.
But as the race has changed rapidly over the past two months — with Mr. Trump’s assassination attempt, Mr. Biden’s withdrawal from the race and Ms. Harris’s rise — voters’ interest in Mr. Kennedy, 70, has waned.
An Ipsos poll earlier this month found his national support had dropped to 4%, a small but still meaningful number in a tight race like the one between Mr. Trump and Ms. Harris.
Currently, Mr. Trump is said to be slightly behind Ms. Harris, but if Mr. Kennedy's supporters turn to support the former US President, the situation of the race to the White House could once again completely change.
Mr Trump celebrated Mr Kennedy's endorsement at a campaign stop in Las Vegas. "I want to thank Bobby. It was great," Mr Trump said. "He's a great guy, well-respected."
Pollster Tony Fabrizio argued that more Kennedy voters would support Trump than Harris in battleground states. “This is good news for former President Trump and his campaign,” he wrote in a memo.
A campaign committee for Mr Kennedy said on Wednesday that in exchange for supporting Mr Trump, Mr Kennedy hoped to get a position in the US administration if the Republican candidate returned to the White House.
Hoang Anh (according to Reuters, AP, CNN)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bau-cu-my-2024-ong-kennedy-se-giup-ong-trump-cuc-dien-cuoc-dua-se-lai-thay-doi-post309068.html
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