A campaign official for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s New York operation suggested that the independent candidate could help former President Donald Trump in his rematch with President Joe Biden. The official, Rita Palma, encouraged GOP voters to sign a petition to put Kennedy on the ballot in New York, arguing that it would “get rid of Biden” and potentially hand Trump a win in a heavily Democratic state. Palma suggested that the only way Trump could have a chance in New York is if Kennedy is on the ballot, as she believed Biden would win in a head-to-head matchup.
Kennedy has consistently denied the idea that he would be a spoiler for either candidate. Palma, who identified herself as Kennedy’s New York state director, also raised the possibility that Kennedy might even win New York, which could also be helpful to Trump. She suggested that giving New York’s 28 electoral votes to Kennedy instead of Biden could reduce Biden’s chances of reaching 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency, potentially leading to Congress deciding the outcome, where Republicans currently hold the majority.
In response to Palma’s remarks, the Kennedy campaign clarified that she is not involved in electoral strategy and was speaking as a private citizen. The campaign stated that their goal is to win the White House with votes from former Trump and Biden supporters alike, and Palma’s comments do not reflect the campaign’s strategy. However, Palma’s statements have led to concerns that some Trump allies may be backing Kennedy with the goal of helping Trump return to the White House, as indicated by the Democratic National Committee’s creation of a group dedicated to weakening third-party campaigns.
The incident with Palma marks the second time in a week that the campaign has revealed divisions in its approach to mobilizing voters for the independent candidate. Kennedy issued statements attempting to walk back earlier comments calling Jan. 6 protesters “activists” who “had no weapons” after a fundraising ad released in error by the campaign. Kennedy apologized for his incorrect understanding and acknowledged that some rioters had carried firearms into the Capitol building, stating that their behavior was inexcusable. The campaign terminated its contract with the marketing contractor responsible for the ad.
Overall, the Kennedy campaign is facing challenges in maintaining a unified message and strategy, as evidenced by the conflicting statements made by campaign officials and the need to retract controversial comments. The campaign insists that Kennedy is a spoiler for both Biden and Trump, but Palma’s remarks indicate a potential alignment with Trump allies that could impact the election dynamics in New York and beyond. The division within the campaign highlights the complexities and tensions present in the current political landscape as the 2024 election approaches.
