Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has maintained that he has no intention of launching a third-party challenge to the Democratic ticket if he does not become the Party’s nominee. However, according to a New York Times report, RFK privately met with Libertarian Party representatives over the summer, suggesting a potential shift in the longshot candidate’s campaign strategy.
As reported by the New York Times on Saturday, Kennedy met with Libertarian Party Chair Angela McArdle during the libertarian FreedomFest conference in Memphis in July. During this meeting, which went unreported until now, Kennedy expressed a desire to remain in the party of his famous family members but also shared that his personal libertarian leanings are keeping his options open.
“He emphasized that he was committed to running as a Democrat but said that he considered himself very libertarian,” McArdle said in an interview. “We’re aligned on a lot of issues. My perspective is that we are going to stay in touch in case he does decide to run, and he can contact me at any time if that’s the case.”
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RFK’s libertarian philosophies have been common knowledge for quite some time despite his adherence to his family’s political heritage. In June, Kennedy explained his biggest disagreements with the Libertarian Party in an interview with Reason Magazine, stating that his views on abortion, environmentalism, and civil rights are in line with the Democratic platform. However, he also acknowledged that “I’ve always been aligned with libertarians on most issues.”
Following the New York Times report, the Kennedy campaign issued a statement declaring that there is “no truth” to the claim that RFK is planning a third-party run on a Libertarian ticket. “We have not sought the favor of any other political party,” campaign manager Dennis Kucinich said.
This statement likely comes as something of a relief to Democratic Party leadership, many of whom fear that a third-party candidate will thwart President Joe Biden’s reelection efforts.
In addition to the Libertarian Party, which currently has no widely-known candidates but has access to ballots in all 50 states, the centrist No Labels Party has been floating the idea of a “unity ticket” after becoming eligible to appear on 11 ballots. The People’s Party, which does not have pre-approved ballot access, nominated political philosopher Dr. Cornel West earlier this year, and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) is considered a likely Independent candidate. Biden also faces a challenge within his own party from Kennedy and spiritualist author Marianne Williamson.
Given the track record of third parties in American presidential politics, it is unlikely that any of these candidates will successfully win the presidency, but they could still act as foils for the incumbent. Democrats fear that a divided base will only tip the scales in Republicans’ favor, resulting in a win for their candidate—which all signs currently indicate will be former President Donald Trump.
(RELATED VIDEO: Why The Deep State Hates the Kennedy Family)
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