Nicole Shanahan, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vice presidential pick, has outlined two stark options for their independent presidential campaign in a recent podcast interview: stay in the race or drop out to support former President Donald Trump.
In a candid discussion on the "Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu" podcast, Shanahan admitted that the campaign faces a critical choice. She expressed concern that continuing their bid could risk helping Vice President Kamala Harris win the presidency by drawing votes away from Trump.
As reported by NBC, Shanahan criticized the Democratic Party for attempting to "sabotage" their campaign and called her past support for Democrats "one of the biggest mistakes of my life." Her comments come as the Kennedy-Shanahan campaign struggles financially, despite Shanahan's own multimillion-dollar investments.
The campaign has faced several setbacks in recent months, including declining poll numbers and ballot access challenges in states like New York. These difficulties have fueled speculation about the campaign's viability and its potential impact on the overall presidential race.
Democrats have long accused the Kennedy campaign of acting as a spoiler for Trump. Shanahan's recent comments seem to lend credence to these accusations, as she openly contemplated the possibility of joining forces with the former president.
In response to the interview, Kennedy posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he's "willing to talk with leaders of any political party." Meanwhile, Trump said on CNN that he "probably would" consider giving Kennedy a position in his administration if he were to win following a Kennedy endorsement.
The Democratic National Committee swiftly condemned Shanahan's comments. DNC communications adviser Lis Smith stated, "From the beginning of this race, we've said that RFK Jr. is nothing more than a spoiler for Donald Trump, and we're glad that his running mate is finally admitting it."
Kennedy supporters have had mixed reactions to the potential shift in campaign strategy. At a protest against the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, some expressed disappointment, feeling that Kennedy should remain independent. Others, disillusioned with the Democratic Party, were more open to a potential alignment with Trump.
As the campaign grapples with these strategic dilemmas, its next moves remain uncertain. Will Kennedy and Shanahan continue their independent bid or will they throw their support behind Trump?
