A wide-ranging coalition of the Kennedy family is set to endorse President Biden on Thursday at a campaign rally in Philadelphia, making a clear statement by rejecting one of their own, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent candidate who many Democrats see as a serious threat to Mr. Biden’s chances of re-election.
Expected to support Mr. Biden are several relatives of Mr. Kennedy, including his siblings Joseph, Kerry, Rory, Kathleen, Maxwell, and Christopher. The Biden campaign has announced a list of 15 Kennedys scheduled to attend the rally, with additional family members also endorsing the president. Kerry Kennedy will introduce Mr. Biden at the rally, while Joe Kennedy III, Mr. Kennedy’s nephew and former Democratic congressman from Massachusetts, will do the same at a separate event.
This display of unity sends a strong message that the prominent Democratic family is deeply concerned that one of their own could potentially sway the 2024 election in favor of former President Donald J. Trump, and they aim to leverage their influence to prevent this outcome.
Several family members have previously voiced their disapproval of Mr. Kennedy’s candidacy, expressing distress over his promotion of conspiracy theories and questioning his decision to challenge a Democratic president they admire. Like many Democrats, they fear that he could siphon votes from Mr. Biden in crucial battleground states, where the margins of victory were narrow in 2020.
While the main target of criticism at the Philadelphia event is likely to be Mr. Trump, the symbolic rejection of Mr. Kennedy will be unmistakable.
Kerry Kennedy is expected to declare, “Today, we can say with great urgency that our rights and freedoms are once again at risk.” She will urge Democrats, Republicans, and independents to unite in a campaign that embodies the spirit of unity and shared values.
The family’s intentions were hinted at when they visited Mr. Biden at the White House for St. Patrick’s Day, underscoring their support for his presidency. Members of the Kennedy family also condemned an ad aired during the Super Bowl that supported Mr. Kennedy, reminiscent of an ad supporting John F. Kennedy in 1960.
With the election approaching and Mr. Kennedy still working to secure ballot access in various states, the impact of his candidacy on Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden’s support remains uncertain. Polls indicate that Mr. Trump’s voter base is more steadfast than Mr. Biden’s, raising the possibility of some of the president’s supporters being open to an alternative.
The Democratic Party has assembled a legal team to monitor Mr. Kennedy’s candidacy, particularly in battleground states. The group will also address other potential disruptors like Cornel West and the Green Party.
Democrats recently witnessed the collapse of a third-party initiative they had been monitoring nervously: No Labels, a centrist group seeking to present an alternative to Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump, announced that it was discontinuing its efforts.
Mr. Kennedy’s platform encompasses a range of policy stances that defy easy categorization by ideology. While he espouses liberal views on certain issues, he has also promoted false theories and arguments associated with the right.
Recently, he questioned the Justice Department’s response to the January 6th Capitol riot, downplaying its severity. His campaign parted ways with a consultant who suggested that supporting Mr. Kennedy would aid Mr. Trump in defeating Mr. Biden.
Despite Mr. Trump’s characterization of Mr. Kennedy as more left-leaning than Mr. Biden, the former president has privately expressed interest in selecting Mr. Kennedy as his running mate—a prospect dismissed by those close to him and Mr. Kennedy himself.
Mr. Biden’s rally in Philadelphia concludes a three-day tour of Pennsylvania, during which he outlined his economic and tax agenda, consistently criticizing Mr. Trump as affluent, disconnected, and a foe of working-class Americans.
Kennedy family members appearing at the rally are expected to evoke the legacy of Robert F. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy’s father.
Kerry Kennedy is set to say, “I can only imagine how Donald Trump’s egregious falsehoods and conduct would have appalled my father, Robert F. Kennedy.” She will emphasize her father’s commitment to justice, human rights, and freedom, values that she sees reflected in President Biden.
Following Mr. Biden’s address, Kennedy family members will engage in voter outreach efforts, including making calls and canvassing neighborhoods, according to the Biden campaign.
