# RFK Jr Files to Run for President (Dropped Out on August 23, 2024) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 6, 2023, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260 "2023-04-06T16:36:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/181 "2023-09-30T19:15:28Z")
I think that would be a pretty canny political move. It _does_ seem to be one of the few issues they actually agree on. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/182 "2023-09-30T19:35:44Z")
Although if Biden does try that, you can assume Trump will loudly denounce all the vaccines without missing a beat. And especially that dangerous RSV one that was approved during Biden’s administration. Very bad. And exactly zero of Trump’s supporters will even notice the substantive difference. They will however cheer loudly because their Hero made a noise with his face. It sounds (and feels) very odd to say this, but golly I miss the day where Tea Party activists would rail on about those horrid “flip-floppers” amongst the Rs. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/183 "2023-09-30T19:38:06Z")
Well they were definitely less exhausting. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/184 "2023-09-30T20:22:37Z")
And better dressed. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/185 "2023-09-30T21:38:45Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Although if Biden does try that, you can assume Trump will loudly denounce all the vaccines without missing a beat. And pass up an opportunity to take credit for something? Impossible. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/186 "2023-10-02T17:40:24Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There’s [some evidence](https://pro.morningconsult.com/analysis/robert-f-kennedy-jr-biden-2024-democratic-primary-polling) that MAGA Jr. is more popular among Republicans than Democrats. Unfortunately this means squat in terms of whether Kennedy will take more votes from Republicans or Democrats. I think Republicans like him because he is a “Democrat” who is standing up to the other members of his party, and who can act as a spoiler against Biden. By the same token Liz Chaney was probably more popular among Democrats than she was among Republicans. But that doesn’t mean that they would vote for her over an actual Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/187 "2023-10-03T13:35:17Z")
My sense is that RFK jr will get very few votes, and most of those are from people who wouldn’t have voted for Biden if you put a gun to their heads, or a vaccine needle near their arms, which they think is the same thing. Further, of those who would have voted if RFK jr weren’t in the race would have voted for Trump, or for some other 3rd party whackjob, anyway. The saddest part for me is the symbolism. I’ve spent the past 60 years admiring his dad as the best hope the Democrats ever had for a progressive kick ass and take names administration. This is like Donald Trump jr. emerging in 30 years as a leftwing democrat–it just mocks his dad’s hard-earned brand. ETA: my persistent misreading of the thread title is “RFK jr. flies…” which I think he’s got a better shot at than winning the Presidentcy. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/188 "2023-10-03T14:59:02Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > my persistent misreading of the thread title is “RFK jr. flies…” which I think he’s got a better shot at than winning the Presidentcy. So far, Kennedys and flying are a bad mix: > **[1999 Martha's Vineyard plane crash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_Martha%27s_Vineyard_plane_crash)** > > John F. Kennedy Jr., the son and namesake of the former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, died when the light aircraft he was flying crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, on July 16, 1999. Kennedy's wife Carolyn Bessette and sister-in-law Lauren Bessette were also on board and died. The Piper Saratoga departed from New Jersey's Essex County Airport; its intended route was along the coastline of Connecticut and across Rhode Island Sound to Martha's Vineyard Airp The... Here’s hooping RFK jr sucks at filing about as much as JFK jr sucks at flying. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/189 "2023-10-03T15:07:03Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > about as much as JFK jr sucks at flying. don’t forget Uncle Teddy breaking his back around 1964 in a plane crash. And Uncle Joe dying in WWII in a plane. And Aunt Kathleen. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2023, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/190 "2023-10-07T01:01:02Z")
And the face-eating has begun! > **[Team Trump readies attacks on RFK Jr. as spoiler anxiety grows | Semafor](https://www.semafor.com/article/10/06/2023/team-trump-readies-attacks-on-rfk-jr-as-spoiler-anxiety-grows)** > > An internal poll has Trump allies concerned a third party run might help President Biden. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2023, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/191 "2023-10-07T20:56:00Z")
It’s interesting that the trump side is worried about RFKjr stealing their votes when upthread we had some folks expressing concern that RFKjr was a threat to steal Biden’s votes. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2023, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/192 "2023-10-08T17:04:52Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > the face-eating has begun Couldn’t happen to a nicer leopard. I’m looking forward personally to Trump trying to imitate RFK jr.'s speech, and to his characterizing it: “Ya can’t unnerstan a word he says, it’s like all ‘Grrrah, errr-ah, grrooo’–he’s talking from the bottom of a well!” etc. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/193 "2023-10-09T14:34:45Z")
Strategy has shifted. Let’s see how things work out for him. > **[RFK Jr. is expected to drop his Democratic primary bid and launch an...](https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-presidential-campaign-independent-2024-30d940109c4956de9c81f332ec418463)** > > Anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to drop his Democratic bid for president and announce he'll run as an independent or third-party candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/194 "2023-10-09T19:17:37Z")
Done. I think this is very bad – likely to siphon a critical percent or two off of low-attention Biden voters. Enough to throw the election. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/195 "2023-10-09T19:20:26Z")
Or not? “Attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s pivot Monday to an independent run for president met immediate resistance from Republican leaders, who have concluded that his new effort threatens to cannibalize their vote share next year, helping to reelect [President Biden](https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/candidates/joe-biden-2024/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2).” > **[Republicans turn on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as he launches independent bid](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/09/republican-leaders-attack-robert-kennedy-jr-independent-campaign-announcement/)** > > Republicans are turning on RFK Jr. as he announces an independent presidential bid, underscoring nervousness on both sides on how the gadfly and other potential third-party candidates might scramble the races ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/196 "2023-10-09T19:56:38Z")
When both teams are suddenly expressing fear, maybe he’s onto something. Or he’s trying to sell his eventual withdrawal to the highest bidder, and ideally both. Note that I personally don’t think Team Biden much gives a shit what RFKjr does. Absent evidence to the contrary I don’t think they think he’s going to harm their side. Team trump is actually worried or at least is _acting_ worried. Said another way, trump appeals to the insane voter. DeSantis tried to appeal to the insane voter. But sucked at it. He could deliver beastly insane-friendly policies, but he couldn’t rally the insane to be happy about DeSantis actually doing that. RFKjr is also trying to get the insane vote. But seems much better at connecting with the insane voter than DeSantis. trump (or his people) are right to be concerned about this. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/197 "2023-10-09T20:43:56Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Or not? Again, his constituency is the batshit crazy vote. No shortage of those folk. Some of them just otherwise won’t vote. Then there are Biden Republicans and Trump Democrats. Which group is overweighted to batshit crazy? Trump attracts the batshit constituency more than Biden does and is more likely impacted more. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/198 "2023-10-09T20:47:13Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Note that I personally don’t think Team Biden much gives a shit what RFKjr does. Absent evidence to the contrary I don’t think they think he’s going to harm their side. Team trump is actually worried or at least is _acting_ worried. I haven’t seen much concern from his camp either. So either the Trump team is paranoid (which wouldn’t shock me) or they see some actual data to give them concern, and the Biden team doesn’t see that. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/199 "2023-10-09T21:00:15Z")
I’ve just discovered that he didn’t inherit the Fitzgerald middle name, so at least he’s not dishonoring that side of the family. Has anyone checked that he was really christened “Francis”? Or is the F just inserted in exasperation like between Jesus and Christ? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/200 "2023-10-09T21:10:40Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Has anyone checked that he was really christened “Francis”? Or is the F just inserted in exasperation like between Jesus and Christ? Everything that I am reading suggests he was born “Robert Francis Kennedy, Jr.”. My total WAG is that he was given a different middle name to differentiate himself from his father, yet given a name close enough to honor him. RFK, Jr. has/had 10 siblings, and from what I can tell none of them have the “Fitzgerald” middle name, so I think the simple conclusion is that his parents just didn’t want to use it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260.md?page=11)