Jen Psaki, the ex-White House press secretary, has raised worries about the potential negative impact of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s candidacy on President Joe Biden’s chances of winning reelection, more so than that of former President Donald Trump. In Wisconsin, Biden is currently ahead of Trump by 6% in a head-to-head contest, but the gap narrows significantly when third-party candidates, like Kennedy who garnered 12% support, are factored in, as per a recent Quinnipiac poll released on Wednesday. Psaki pointed to this poll data, emphasizing her belief that Kennedy’s candidacy does not only draw support away from Trump.
“There was a Quinnipiac poll this week … where if he is in the race and on the ballot in Wisconsin, he gets 12% of the vote,” Psaki said. “So, polls are imperfect, they’re testing a moment in time, but dead worms, conspiracy theories, mercury, all these things aside … my larger point here is that this man is a real threat.”
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“I understand that there’s polling that suggests that he would only hurt Donald Trump,” she added. “I don’t buy that. I don’t buy it.”
Kennedy’s party switch from Democrat to independent in October has caused polling to indicate that he poses a greater threat to Biden than Trump. However, recent polls have shown that Kennedy’s candidacy is actually hindering Trump’s chances. In response to this, Biden’s campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and other groups have already taken action to counter Kennedy’s campaign. They are concerned that Kennedy will attract more support from Biden’s base than from Trump’s.
Some attribute Hillary Clinton’s loss in the 2016 election to the presence of Green Party candidate Jill Stein on the ballot in crucial swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, all of which Trump won by a narrow margin.
