Whose Voters like RFK Jr. More? It’s Very Clear

S.E. Cupp, Tribune Content Agency on Apr 3, 2024

But there’s often a big difference between what each candidate wants to be true, and what is true.

We won’t know until exit polling in November whose presidential reelection dreams Kennedy ends up spoiling, but I happen to believe both teams are wrong — RFK Jr. is clearly going to take votes away from Trump.

Just listen to him in his own words and it’s inarguable. In a lengthy and eye-opening interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett Monday night, Kennedy claimed he could make the argument that Biden was actually the bigger threat to democracy — not Trump. He used utterly Trumpy language to accuse Biden of “weaponizing” federal agencies against him and censoring him — CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale quickly pointed out there was no evidence of either.

Echoing Trump, he alleged not one but two presidential elections were stolen — 2000 and 2004 — and even worse, said that we shouldn’t make “pariahs” of people who say elections are stolen, a very weird defense of Trump and other election deniers.

He defended Trump voters, accused the Democratic Party of forgetting them, and called himself a populist, like Trump.

Does this sound like a guy who really wants Democrats to vote for him?

Then there’s veep-gate. Early reports had RFK considering conspiracy theorist Aaron Rodgers and infomercial life coach Tony Robbins — two very unserious candidates who certainly appeal more to the right than the left.

Don’t take my word for it, just ask RFK’s own supporters. “The Daily Show” spoke to Kennedy voters who expressed disappointment in the Shanahan pick and were hoping for Rodgers instead.

“Aaron Rodgers, just because he’s also anti-mandatory vaccine,” said one about his preferred choice.

“I really like how Aaron Rodgers stood up and spoke out against the COVID tyranny,” said another.

Yes, these sound like people who might consider voting for Biden.

Kennedy and Shanahan’s anti-vax views and penchant for conspiracy theories, along with Kennedy’s rabid support for Israel — he recently dismissed Palestinians as “the most pampered people by international aid organizations in the history of the world” — in no way endear him to either the radical left or the moderate left.

So, in what world does RFK take from Biden? If you ask me, that assertion just sounds like a get-out-the-vote tactic from the Democrats and wishful thinking from Trump.

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(S.E. Cupp is the host of "S.E. Cupp Unfiltered" on CNN.)