As expected, RFK drops out of the election. The Wall Street Journal agrees with my take that this helps Trump.
Kennedy Drops Out
The WSJ reports Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Drops Out of Presidential Race, Endorses Donald Trump
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.said he would suspend his election bid and endorse Donald Trump, potentially boosting the Republican former president just after Democrats left their convention with renewed hope for a win.
“I promised the American people that I would withdraw from the race if I became a spoiler,” Kennedy said at a rally here Friday. “In my heart, I no longer believe that I have a realistic path to electoral victory in the face of this relentless, systematic censorship and media control.”
Polls indicate that Kennedy’s departure will likely help Trump, providing some welcome news for a candidate who has struggled to counter Harris’s momentum. At the rally, Kennedy suggested that Trump, whom he has spoken to in recent weeks, had asked “to enlist me in his administration.” He said he tried to meet with Harris and she declined.
On Friday, Kennedy said he would seek to remove his name from the ballot in competitive battleground states—but leave it on others, letting voters back him in solid blue or solid red states where he wouldn’t affect the outcome.
“In an honest system, I believe I would have won the election,” Kennedy said.
Why Help for Trump
In a Wall Street Journal national poll released in late July after Harris entered the race, Kennedy received 4% support. That was down from 7% in early July—when Biden was still in the contest.
Harris picked up the disgruntled anti-Biden voters already.
Trump will clean up among the RFK supporters that remained although many may not vote at all.
Disgruntled Family Members Attack RFK
Betting Odds Say Kennedy Will Drop Out to Endorse Trump, Will This Matter?
Yesterday I asked, Betting Odds Say Kennedy Will Drop Out to Endorse Trump, Will This Matter?
My conclusion was yes.
In a close election, small percentages could matter.
If current momentum shifts by a point anyway, and RFK gives Trump another 1 percentage point, then RFK could easily tip the election.
However, could and will are different matters. It remains to be seen if this is helpful enough.