What Polling Shows About Americans’ Views of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
WASHINGTON – Republicans More Likely Than Democrats to Have A Favorable Opinion of RFK Jr.
With recent developments in the world of Politics, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his presidential campaign on Friday, expressing his support for Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump. This unexpected move was motivated by Kennedy’s concerns that continuing his campaign would bolster the odds of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. The son of the former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, RFK Jr. was observed struggling to find his footing in a political race that has undergone dramatic shifts due to the departure of Democratic President Joe Biden and the nomination of Harris in his place.
Polling Overview
While Kennedy’s support was reported to be in the double digits in some polls earlier in the year, most recent polls suggest that his support remained in the mid-single digits. It is crucial to note that it’s unclear if RFK Jr. would have received that level of support in the general election, as third-party candidates typically don’t live up to their initial polling numbers once votes are actually cast.
According to an AP-NORC poll conducted in July, views on Kennedy were fairly split among Americans, with about as many people holding a favourable view as those with an unfavorable view. This marked a decline from a February poll where more people held a positive than a negative view of Kennedy. Interestingly, this poll also revealed that Republicans were significantly more likely than Democrats to maintain a favorable view of Kennedy, with those having a positive impression also more likely to have a favorable view of Trump (52%) than Harris (37%).
Partisan Appeal & Kennedy’s Base of Support
RKennedy’s candidacy seemed to primarily appeal to those desiring an alternative to a match-up between Biden and Trump. In a Pew Research Center poll from July, about half of voters supporting Kennedy indicated the main reason they backed him was his status as an independent candidate, unassociated with either Biden or Trump. Opinions on Kennedy were fraught among political independents, with about 4 in 10 reporting they did not know enough to form an opinion.
The shift of Kamala Harris to the top of the Democratic ticket may have contributed to dampening Kennedy’s prospects further. An August Pew poll suggested that Harris had gained support at Kennedy’s expense, attracting some women and non-white voters who were previously considering him.
Family Name
Kennedy’s early campaign efforts were heavily centered around his family’s name and his connection to other illustrious Kennedy family members, such as his father Robert F. Kennedy and uncle John F. Kennedy. Recent polling indicated that acknowledgement of the Kennedy legacy may be a double-edged sword, with many Democrats stating they’d consider supporting Kennedy due to his family name, as well as numerous members of the Kennedy clan endorsing Biden before his departure from the race.
Courtroom Appeal
The news regarding Kennedy’s campaign suspension comes on the heels of a ruling by a New York judge that he should not appear on the state ballot due to his listing of a “sham” address on the nominating petitions. Kennedy is appealing the judgement, but continues to face similar challenges in many other areas.
This report presents only a snapshot of Americans’ fluctuating views towards Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and demonstrates the shifting sands of public opinion in the run-up to the 2024 Presidential Election.
