Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was running as an independent candidate for president, has decided to stop his campaign. This could affect the election results in key states where Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are in a tight race for the 270 electoral votes needed to win.
Kennedy’s Support
Kennedy was getting about 5% of the vote nationally, according to RealClearPolitics. While this might not seem like a lot, those voters could make a difference depending on who they choose to support now that Kennedy is out of the race. Kennedy had supporters from both Republicans and Democrats.
Impact of Biden’s Endorsement of Harris
Kennedy’s support dropped after President Biden suspended his campaign and endorsed Kamala Harris. This led some of Kennedy’s supporters to switch to Harris, boosting her campaign.
Talks Between Trump and Kennedy’s Teams
Donald Trump Jr. worked with Kennedy’s team to try to get his endorsement for Trump. Kennedy decided to stop his campaign because he felt he was taking away votes from Trump, making it harder for Trump to win.
Impact on Voters
Experts disagree on how much Kennedy’s decision will affect the election. Some think it could make a big difference, especially if many of Kennedy’s supporters decide to vote for Trump. Others believe it won’t have much impact.
State-by-State Analysis
- Pennsylvania: Without Kennedy in the race, Trump gains a slight edge over Harris.
- Arizona: Similar to Pennsylvania, Trump gains a small advantage with Kennedy out of the race.
- Michigan and Wisconsin: Harris remains in the lead, but her advantage is smaller without Kennedy.
- Nevada and Georgia: Trump benefits slightly more when Kennedy is in the race, but he still keeps his lead even without him.