Former Bill Clinton pollster Mark Penn voiced strong criticism of the Democratic Party's handling of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s place on state ballots after he suspended his presidential campaign.
The Daily Caller reported that Penn expressed his discontent on Friday, emphasizing that the Democrats were attempting to exploit Kennedy's candidacy even after he had withdrawn from the race and endorsed former President Donald Trump.
Penn accused Democrats of unfairly attempting to keep Kennedy on ballots in several states to divert votes away from Trump, despite Kennedy’s decision to step out of the race.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had officially suspended his presidential campaign on August 23, signaling his support for Trump shortly after.
Following this, Kennedy sought to have his name removed from several state ballots, including North Carolina and Michigan. However, Democratic efforts emerged to prevent him from being removed, which Penn suggested was a calculated strategy aimed at weakening Trump’s voter base.
According to Penn, the Democrats’ attempts to keep Kennedy on the ballot were a bid to pull support away from Trump in key states. Kennedy, after endorsing Trump, filed requests to have his name withdrawn from ballots, as he was no longer pursuing the presidency.
His endorsement marked a significant shift in his political stance, and he quickly moved to align himself with Trump’s base.
Despite his withdrawal, Democratic strategists allegedly believed that keeping Kennedy on the ballots could siphon votes from Trump in battleground states. Penn criticized this move, calling it a manipulation of the election process.
On Friday, Kennedy successfully appealed to have his name removed from the ballots in both North Carolina and Michigan, two pivotal states that went to Trump in 2016. The legal victories were crucial for Kennedy as he worked to distance himself from the election process after endorsing Trump.
North Carolina and Michigan are seen as critical swing states, with polls showing tight races.
RealClearPolling data revealed that Trump leads by 0.7% in North Carolina, while Vice President Kamala Harris holds a narrow 1.1% lead in Michigan.
With Kennedy polling at around 5% before suspending his campaign, there was concern that his continued presence on the ballot could impact the outcome of the election.
Mark Penn's comments underscore a broader concern over the integrity of the election process. He argued that attempts to keep Kennedy on the ballot, despite his request for removal, were politically motivated.
"I think some of these things that we have seen where people have tried to knock off people from the ballot unfairly, or now they are even trying to keep RFK on the ballot when he asked to be withdrawn because it’s to one partisan advantage," Penn stated. His remarks highlighted the importance of ensuring fair play in the electoral process, suggesting that such tactics could undermine voter confidence.
President Joe Biden, who recently announced that he would not seek re-election, has been facing challenges in key swing states. Polling data indicated that Kennedy’s candidacy had been a factor in Biden's declining support in these states. With Kennedy polling at 5% before his withdrawal, his campaign had the potential to draw away votes from Biden in competitive regions.
While Biden’s decision to step away from the race may have eased concerns about vote-splitting, the Democrats’ strategy regarding Kennedy’s ballot presence has sparked controversy. The move to keep him on ballots, even after he had suspended his campaign, has raised questions about the motivations behind such efforts.
With the 2024 election approaching, the efforts to keep Kennedy on state ballots could have far-reaching implications. The political landscape is already fraught with tension, and swing states like North Carolina and Michigan will play a pivotal role in determining the outcome.
Polling suggests that Trump holds a slight edge in North Carolina, while Harris, who would presumably lead the Democratic ticket, holds a narrow lead in Michigan. With Kennedy no longer in the race, his potential impact on these key battlegrounds has become a point of focus for both parties.
