Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at an event in Oakland, California, March 26.
Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
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Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at an event in Oakland, California, March 26.
Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
More than a dozen members of the Kennedy family will support President Biden’s re-election bid on Thursday, officially turning their back on one of their own, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who launched his own independent bid.
Kennedy, the son of Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, has a slim chance of winning in November, but a third-party candidate with a legendary Democratic last name has the potential to siphon votes from Biden.
At Thursday’s event in Philadelphia, Biden will be joined by Kennedy’s sister, Kerry Kennedy, and nephew Joseph Kennedy III, who are expected to speak. Other close family members will join them on stage.
“President Biden has been a champion of all the rights and freedoms defended by my father and uncles,” Kerry Kennedy will say, according to excerpts of his prepared remarks released by the Biden campaign.
After the event, family members will knock on doors and make appeals for Biden, according to the campaign.
The Kennedy family has long been a part of Democratic politics and many prominent members have previously been highly critical of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s candidacy. Kennedy has promoted baseless conspiracy theories related to vaccines.
Kennedy’s campaign did not respond to an NPR request for comment on the endorsement.
Kennedy sparked anger within his family after a political action committee supporting his campaign aired a Super Bowl ad inspired by his uncle’s 1960 presidential campaign, using the jingle “Kennedy for me” . He then apologized to them.
The Kennedy family has said they are focused on the re-election of Biden, who has cited the political career of Robert F. Kennedy Sr. as an inspiration for his own.
“We can say today, with no less urgency, that our rights and freedoms are once again in danger,” Kerry Kennedy will say, according to excerpts of his remarks.
“That’s why we must all come together in a campaign that should unite not just Democrats, but all Americans, including Republicans, and independents, who believe in what Lincoln called the better angels of our nature.” , she will say.
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