Recent polls indicate that Republicans were more likely than Democrats to view Robert F. Kennedy Jr. favorably before he suspended his presidential campaign on Friday and endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump.
Kennedy, seventy, cited concerns that continuing his campaign would benefit Democratic nominee Kamala Harris as a reason for his withdrawal. His support had declined in recent polls as he struggled to position himself in a race reshaped by Democratic President Joe Biden’s departure and Harris’ nomination.
While some early polls showed Kennedy’s support in double digits, recent surveys placed him in the mid-single digits. Historically, third-party candidates often fail to match their early poll numbers in actual voting.
An Associated Press-NORC poll conducted in July, before Biden’s withdrawal, found Americans evenly split in their views of Kennedy. This marked a decline from February when more respondents held positive than negative views. In the July poll, about two in ten U.S. adults lacked sufficient knowledge to form an opinion on Kennedy.
The poll revealed that Republicans were significantly more likely than Democrats and independents to view Kennedy favorably. Those with a positive impression of Kennedy were more likely to also view Trump favorably (fifty-two percent) compared to Harris (thirty-seven percent).
Kennedy’s appeal to political independents was limited. Despite running as an independent candidate, about four in ten independents lacked enough information to form an opinion. Those who did were equally divided between favorable and unfavorable views.
A Pew Research Center poll from July found that about half of Kennedy’s supporters backed him primarily because he was neither Biden nor Trump, rather than for his characteristics or policies.
Harris’ elevation to the top of the Democratic ticket may have further impacted Kennedy’s prospects. An August Pew poll suggested Harris gained support at Kennedy’s expense, particularly among women and non-white voters.
Kennedy initially emphasized his family name and connections to other prominent Kennedys, including his father and uncle, former President John F. Kennedy. CNN polling last summer found many Democrats considered supporting him due to the Kennedy name or family connections. However, many Kennedy family members endorsed Biden before his withdrawal.
Gallup’s retrospective approval ratings show John F. Kennedy remains the most highly rated former president, with nine in ten Americans approving of his job performance across party lines.
Kennedy’s campaign faced legal challenges, including a recent ruling by a New York judge barring him from the state’s ballot due to a “sham” address on nominating petitions. Kennedy appealed the ruling but encountered similar challenges in other states.
As the race continues without Kennedy, analysts will be closely watching how his departure might influence support for the remaining candidates and the overall dynamics of the presidential election.
An Associated Press story
