NEWS AND OPINION:
Independent presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is still very much on the campaign trail, continuing his quest to reach the White House. Is he a threat to those who are also running for the highest office in the land?
“People are panicking, RFK, Jr., that you’re going to steal votes from them,” Fox News prime-time host Jesse Watters said in an interview with the candidate on Thursday.
“I don’t know what the game plan is,” Mr. Watters advised.
“I’ll be on the ballot in every state and the District of Columbia,” Mr. Kennedy replied.
“That’s a huge amount of voters who are going to be able to vote for you,” the host observed.
“Yeah. Well, I’m already beating both President Trump and President Biden among independents, which is the largest cohort. Independents are now 52% of the American voting public. This is the first election in the history where independents have outnumbered Republicans and Democrats,” Mr. Kennedy said.
“I’m beating both President Biden and President Trump in young people, people under 35, in the battleground states, among all people under 45. I’m tying President Biden with Hispanic voters and beating President Trump by 10 points,” he continued.
“The only cohort where I’m losing on are baby boomers. And when we start reaching them with advertising, we’re going to bring them around, too,” Mr. Kennedy vowed.
He did not cite specific polls in this conversation, but headlines in the last 48 hours suggest an emerging trend:
“Van Jones and David Axelrod warn: Don’t underestimate RFK Jr., on the ballot in key swing states” (Real Clear Politics); “Why RFK Jr. could hurt Biden against Trump as he gains ballot access in key swing state” (Forbes); “RFK Jr. nears major ballot wins in 3 battleground states” (Axios); and “RFK reveals he will be on the ballot in key swing state of Nevada: Warning sign for Trump and Biden with third party candidate threatening to take thousands of votes in battleground that could decide the election” (The Daily Mail).
So far, Mr. Kennedy is already on the ballot in Utah and has collected all the necessary signatures to be on the New Hampshire ballot. In Hawaii, the Hawaii Office of Elections has confirmed Kennedy supporters have collected the required signatures to establish the “We The People” party in Hawaii, according to his campaign.
“Supporters of Kennedy in California, Delaware, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas have filed political party paperwork,” the campaign said.
TRUMP’S LATEST
Well, why not? Former President Donald Trump has launched his latest public outreach and here it is, verbatim from an emailed campaign message, capital letters and all:
“This is President Trump, and I’m releasing this LIMITED EDITION commemorative GOLD MAGA HAT to my closest friends and allies only! Unreleased. White and gold. 100% made in America!,” the 45th president says in his written pitch, which seeks a $47 donation.
“Nobody has these yet, and I saved you one. Please get yours while you still can, and while supplies last. I wanted to give you something special for always being by my side through everything. I really mean that. Your love is truly special, and I have felt it throughout this entire campaign,” the outreach says.
PRO-LIFERS TAKE A STAND
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America has launched a “six-figure” TV and digital ad campaign to push back on the content of President Biden’s State of the Union speech.
“These ads ask a simple question: Who cares more for pregnant moms – a failing president and his political party, or the nationwide pro-life community that offers on-the-ground financial and physical support, for free, to moms in need?” the organization asked in a written statement.
“While Biden continues to push his extreme pro-abortion agenda, he fails to offer the support that women need when facing unplanned pregnancies. Thankfully, there are thousands of nationwide pregnancy centers and maternity homes that help pregnant women and their children,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the group.
“The pro-life community has and continues to support moms and babies with resources, housing, education, job training and financial support. This is all despite the Biden administration actively working to undermine and even shut down these same charitable organizations and willfully turning a blind eye to the widespread violence against them,” she said in a statement shared with Inside the Beltway.
“In 2022 alone, over 2,700 pregnancy centers met with clients over 16 million times (including 975,000 new clients) and provided an estimated $358 million in total value of services and material goods. These centers empower women, supporting them during pregnancy and after their children are born,” the group noted.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America is a grassroots network of more than 1 million pro-lifers nationwide that focuses on “electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders,” according to a mission statement. Find the group at SBAprolife.org.
WEEKEND REAL ESTATE
For sale: The Millhouse – late-night host Johnny Carson‘s country home, built of stone in 1928 on two acres in Rye, New York; 9,923 square feet. Six bedrooms, eight baths, seven fireplaces, dining room, breakfast room, family room, library, recreation room, three offices, fitness room, sauna and much more. Soaring ceilings, formal landscaping, outdoor spa, pool, pickle ball court, 3-car garage with charging stations for Tesla and Mercedes. Priced at $5.3 million through William Pitt/Sotheby’s International Realty; find the property at www.7puritanroad.com.
POLL DU JOUR
• 61% of U.S. adults agree that the nation is “divided”; 67% of liberals, 58% of moderates and 63% of conservatives agree.
• 45% say the nation is “declining”; 32% of liberals, 38% of moderates and 62% of conservatives agree.
• 37% say the nation is “weak”; 21% of liberals, 33% of moderates and 55% of conservatives agree.
• 15% say the nation is “strong”; 23% of liberals, 16% of moderates and 7% of conservatives agree.
• 12% say the nation is “united”; 12% of liberals, 14% of moderates and 9% of conservatives agree.
• 11% say the nation is “prospering”; 17% of liberals, 14% of moderates and 5% of conservatives agree.
SOURCE: A CBS News poll of 1,438 registered U.S. voters conducted Feb. 28-March 1; respondents could cite more than one description.
• Contact Jennifer Harper at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.