Nicole Shanahan reveals Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign considerations for joining Trump

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential campaign is currently debating whether to merge with Republican nominee Donald Trump or continue as a third-party candidate, according to Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan.

In an interview on the “Impact Theory” podcast released Tuesday, Shanahan disclosed that the campaign is considering two options: staying in the race to establish a new party and aim for more than 5% of the popular vote, or aligning with Trump and ending their bid.

Shanahan noted that if they remain in the race, they risk siphoning votes from Trump, which could benefit Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. On the other hand, joining Trump would require them to justify the decision to their supporters. She acknowledged the difficulty of the choice and mentioned that she might explore a run for governor of California if the campaign concludes.

There is uncertainty about whether Kennedy’s supporters would back Trump if the campaign withdraws. Some polls indicate that Harris could perform better against Trump in swing states with Kennedy in the race. Shanahan emphasized that their goal was not to be a spoiler but to make a meaningful impact, noting that Kennedy’s campaign has worked to secure ballot access across the country.

Kennedy’s campaign has gathered enough signatures to be on the ballot in all 50 states, but a judge recently ruled that Kennedy cannot appear on the New York ballot due to residency issues. Kennedy is appealing the decision and also challenging efforts to remove him from ballots in key states like Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Democratic Party spokesperson Lis Smith criticized Shanahan’s remarks, claiming they expose the Kennedy campaign’s lack of a viable path to victory and labeling it a spoiler for Trump.