We all know that President Trump is running for president in 2024, but one question that is on the minds of many is who his running-mate might be this go around.
With regard to other potential Republican presidential candidates, Mike Pence, once considered a possible candidate, has damaged his chances. He failed to take action regarding the uncertified results of the 2020 election and stood with Democrats and elites on this issue. Ron DeSantis, the current Governor of Florida, may also not take the risk of losing his position in exchange for a presidential run.
Roger Stone thinks that he knows of one candidate who might be a fit, but it’s completely out of character for any presidential candidate, and that person is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The Kennedy family has had a notable history in American politics, with Robert Kennedy following in his uncle John’s footsteps as a presidential candidate. John Kennedy held conservative views including being anti-communist, a proponent of a strong defense, and supporting a dollar backed by silver. However, the elder Kennedy also became distrustful of US intelligence services after the badly planned Bay of Pigs Invasion and the absence of any early alerts of Russian missile deployment in Cuba in 1962.
Robert Kennedy held similarly skeptical views, leading him to vow to dissolve the CIA into tiny pieces, a possible cause of his assassination in 1963. Currently, there are concerns that the Democratic establishment, under the control of former President Obama, may not support Kennedy in the nomination process due to his vaccine hesitancy and his stance on an independent foreign policy.
If Kennedy emerges as a strong candidate, it is possible that he may draw not only Democratic voters but also some members of the Republican base. In 2016, a third of Bernie Sanders’ voters ended up voting for Donald Trump, reflecting the potential for crossover support. This could lead to a situation where Kennedy helps Trump’s re-election if he receives the Democratic nomination but does not receive the necessary Democratic support.
This further escalates the importance of carefully observing the Kennedy campaign and its potential impact on the US presidential election in 2024. It may even prompt Republicans to consider drafting Kennedy as Trump’s vice-presidential running mate on a unity ticket, following in the footsteps of John McCain’s desire for a bipartisan running mate in 2008. However, given the distance to the election day, there are many other factors that could shape the nomination and result in unexpected outcomes.
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