Robert F Kennedy Jr, running for US president as a Democrat, is attracting support from right-wingers, raising concerns due to his history of amplifying conspiracy theories. Kennedy recently reiterated his remarks suggesting that Covid-19 may have been “ethnically targeted” to “attack” certain racial groups while sparing others. Despite claiming that he never implied deliberate engineering, Kennedy’s claims were refuted by the author of a study he cited. The debunked claims are part of Kennedy’s shift from being an environmental champion to an anti-vaccine activist who criticized pandemic health measures as “fascism.”
Surprisingly, Kennedy has garnered support in national opinion polls, reaching as high as 21% since his April campaign launch. Some attribute this to disaffection among Democratic voters with President Joe Biden, while others speculate that Kennedy’s well-known last name plays a role. As the nephew of former President John F Kennedy and the third child of former Attorney General Robert F Kennedy, he evokes nostalgia for the Kennedy family. Democratic strategist Kevin Walling believes that as more Democrats become aware of Kennedy’s views, his support will diminish.
The Biden camp has largely ignored Kennedy, but White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned his comments on ethnic targeting as “vile.” Other Democratic Party members distanced themselves from his remarks, describing them as antisemitic and anti-Asian. Notably, Kennedy’s close association with the Trump wing of the Republican Party raises further concerns. He has appeared at events promoting false claims about the 2020 election and downplaying the January 2021 attack on the US Capitol. Kennedy’s campaign has received favorable coverage from right-wing media outlets and has attracted Republican donors.
While Kennedy’s fundraising numbers outpace some Republican challengers, they pale in comparison to Biden’s campaign funds. Democratic strategist Mark Longabaugh believes Kennedy’s candidacy will not pose a significant threat to Biden but may cause some chaos in the first primary contest in New Hampshire. Older voters in the region once dominated by the Kennedys may still be enamored with the dynasty, but voters are likely to be turned off by Kennedy’s views and Republican support. Ultimately, Kennedy’s controversial statements and alignment with the Trump wing of the GOP are diminishing his reputation.
SOURCE: Ref Image from Business Insider India
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