Poll: RFK Jr’s independent run could pull more from Trump than Biden

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s bid for the 2024 presidency could be more of a spoiler for Republicans than Democrats if he decides to run on an independent ticket, a new poll shows. The Democratic presidential candidate is teasing a major announcement on Oct. 9 — the same date it said he will launch an independent bid instead of running against President Joe Biden in the primaries.

It comes after Republicans have shown a fondness for some of what RFK Jr. on his presidential platform. This includes his skepticism toward the COVID-19 vaccine and his plans to address the southern border crisis. While there are no solid polls to test Kennedy’s third-party bid, a new Quinnipiac University poll released this week shows Republican voters like him much more than their Democratic counterparts. Republicans have a more favorable view of Kennedy by a 30-point margin, while Democrats have a more unfavorable view of him by a 43-point margin.

While 48 percent of Republicans have a favorable view of RFK Jr., only 14 percent of Democrats feel the same. Republican voters have an unfavorable view of him at 18 percent, compared to the dominant 57 percent who say they have a poor view of the candidate on the Democratic side. Meanwhile, independent voters are divided: 36 percent have a favorable view of Kennedy and 37 percent have an unfavorable view. What was initially seen as a gambling bid that could divert some votes from Biden’s re-election bid in this year’s primaries is now turning into a spoiler that could spell more trouble for Republicans in next November’s general election.

Ironically, some Republican voters even have a more favorable view of Kennedy than other presidential candidates competing in the Republican primaries against the major frontrunner Donald Trump. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Vice President Mike Pence are less popular among Republicans than RFK Jr. Meanwhile, current Democratic candidates are viewed similarly favorably to Republican candidates, including former South Carolina Senator Tim Scott and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. Only Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis beat Kennedy when it comes to favorability among right-wing voters. Democratic voters have never had a particularly positive view of Kennedy and his bid for the White House — but distaste has grown in recent months.

RFK Jr. was only 14 points underwater in mid-June, with more favorable views from left-wing voters up to 23 points underwater later that same month. In July, the preference over unfavorable was 26 points negative and in August 31 points underwater. Now Kennedy is seen as trailing by 43 points in favor among Democrats, the Quinnipiac poll shows. As a lesser-known candidate, many voters across the political spectrum said they still don’t know enough about RFK Jr. as a candidate to make a statement about his sympathy. Thirty-three percent of Republicans feel this way, 28 percent of Democrats and 26 percent of independent voters. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12589511/Shock-poll-shows-RFK-Jrs-run-independent-pull-support-TRUMP-Biden-2024.html?ito =msngallery

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