Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a 2024 GOP presidential candidate, has issued a warning about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential bid. Speaking at a rally in New Hampshire, DeSantis stated that Kennedy’s campaign could potentially hurt former President Donald Trump’s chances more than his own in the general election. According to The Messenger, DeSantis believes that Kennedy will have a greater impact on Trump’s voter base.
While Kennedy’s chances of victory are slim, some polls suggest that he could draw votes away from both the Republican and Democratic nominees. Kennedy recently switched from being a Democrat to running as an independent, challenging incumbent President Joe Biden.
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During the event, Governor DeSantis positioned himself as an alternative to President Trump, emphasizing his opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and lockdowns. He believes that voters who are angry with former White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci will gravitate towards him rather than Trump. DeSantis stated, “If I’m the nominee, they all go to me because I stood up against Fauci. With Trump, though, he created Fauci. He elevated Fauci. He never fired him.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long been critical of childhood vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines and mandates. His stance on these issues could attract voters who share similar views.
“RFK Jr. will be a vessel for anti-lockdown and anti-Anthony Fauci voters if Trump is the nominee. If I’m the nominee, they all go to me because I stood up against Fauci,” DeSantis said during the event. He added that frustrated voters who disagree with the federal government’s handling of COVID-19 will want a candidate who represents their concerns.
The Trump campaign has rejected DeSantis’s statements, with spokesman Steven Cheung calling him “an idiot” for having such an uninformed take. However, DeSantis has previously expressed his belief that Kennedy would draw votes away from Trump.
Former President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom with attorneys Christopher Kise (L) and Alina Habba during his civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in New York on Oct. 18, 2023. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)
In an interview with WGIR-TV earlier in October, DeSantis stated, “This RFK third party I don’t think would be a factor if I’m the nominee. But I think it would be a factor with Trump because I think some of the issues RFK raises like Dr. Anthony Fauci, the COVID lockdowns, all that, I’m very strong on that and I did something about it.”
DeSantis also criticized Trump’s handling of vaccines, claiming that he is “very weak” on the issue and empowered Fauci. However, Trump has previously voiced his disagreements with Fauci and even threatened to fire him.
While DeSantis believes his COVID-19 messaging will benefit him in the general election, recent polls show that he is trailing behind Trump by a significant margin. According to an aggregate of polls from October 24, DeSantis has 13 percent support, while Trump leads with 58.8 percent. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy also have notable percentages.
As for Kennedy, his campaign has not publicly responded to DeSantis’s claims.
How does DeSantis view his stance against Fauci and vaccine mandates as a means to gain popularity among voters?
Me because I stood up against Fauci. With Trump, though, he created Fauci. He elevated Fauci. He never fired him,” said DeSantis.
Kennedy’s decision to run as an independent has raised concerns among Republicans, particularly because it could split the conservative vote and potentially hurt Trump’s chances in the general election. While Kennedy’s chances of winning the presidency are slim, his campaign could draw votes away from both the Republican and Democratic nominees.
One of Kennedy’s appealing factors to voters is his vocal opposition to vaccinations and vaccine mandates. His stance on these issues aligns with those who are skeptical of government interference and control. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the debates surrounding vaccines, Kennedy’s message may resonate with a significant portion of the population.
DeSantis, who has positioned himself as an alternative to President Trump, believes that he can capture the support of voters who are angry with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former White House medical adviser. By standing up against vaccine mandates and lockdowns, DeSantis has gained popularity among those who view Fauci as the face of government overreach.
The Florida Governor’s warning about the potential impact of Kennedy’s presidential bid on Trump’s chances highlights the delicate nature of elections and the need for candidates to consider the broader political landscape. As the race for the 2024 presidential election begins to shape up, each candidate must carefully navigate their messaging and appeal to their target voter base.
Ultimately, the presence of an independent candidate like Kennedy brings an element of unpredictability to the election. While it remains to be seen how much impact Kennedy will have on the final outcome, it is clear that his campaign has the potential to shape the political dynamics and potentially influence the choices of voters who align with his views.
As the 2024 election approaches, it will be interesting to see how candidates like DeSantis and Kennedy navigate the political landscape and position themselves to attract voter support. The outcome of the election will ultimately depend on numerous factors, including the ability of candidates to address the concerns and priorities of the electorate.
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