Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly considering attorney and tech entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan as his running mate, with an announcement expected later this month, campaign sources suggested on Saturday.
Shanahan, a Democratic Party megadonor who was previously married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin and is alleged to have had an affair with Elon Musk, has remained largely apolitical aside from her donations, rarely speaking out about issues of the day. However, earlier this year, she contributed $4 million to American Values 2024, the PAC supporting Kennedy’s campaign, to help pay for a Super Bowl commercial.
Shanahan also reportedly had a hand in the ad’s production.
Learn more: https://t.co/4YjLwreZN9 pic.twitter.com/JLEPW7H901
— American Values 2024 (@AmValues2024) February 12, 2024
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First reported by Mediaite, sources close to the Kennedy campaign indicated that Shanahan and RFK “align on numerous issues.”
“The campaign is also looking for a candidate who can help finance the ballot access initiative,” the source continued. Kennedy has thus far only managed to secure ballot access in four states—Hawaii, New Hampshire, Nevada, and Utah—with many states requiring an intended running mate before allowing candidates to appear.
The full ballot access effort carries a $15 million price tag, making Shanahan an attractive option. However, the source also mentioned lingering concerns about adding her to the RFK ticket.
“She might be infusing millions of dollars into the campaign to help fund the ballot initiative, which makes her attractive financially; however, she lacks the qualifications to actually do the job.”
Mediaite further discovered that Kennedy senior advisor Link Lipsitz had registered the domain name www.kennedyshanahan.com on March 13 and is currently accepting donations.
Related: PBD and RFK in a Valuetainment Town Hall
Shanahan, who describes herself as “a progressive through and through,” supported President Joe Biden’s campaign in 2020, and then contributed the maximum $6,600 to Kennedy’s campaign last year. She was reportedly “very disappointed” when RFK announced his Independent candidacy but now appears to have changed her mind.
Mediaite’s report has also settled previous rumors that Kennedy was strongly considering New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura as possible vice presidential picks. At the time, Ventura neither confirmed nor denied that he was considering the position. At the same time, Rodgers became the target of multiple cable news networks accusing him of spreading “conspiracy theories” about the Sandy Hook school shooting.
The Kennedy campaign has said that RFK’s running mate will be announced on March 26 in Oakland, California.
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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