In a hypothetical presidential race featuring Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, a recent survey reveals that the inclusion of Robert F.
Kennedy Jr. as an independent candidate would significantly narrow Trump's lead.
According to Newsweek, the HarrisX poll, conducted online between June 28 and 30, surveyed 1,500 registered voters. In a direct contest, 49 percent of respondents favored Trump, while 42 percent supported Harris, leaving the Republican with a seven-point lead. However, the introduction of Kennedy into the race reduces Trump's lead to a mere four points. The poll's results showed Trump with 42 percent, Harris with 38 percent, and Kennedy securing 15 percent of the vote. The remaining six percent of voters were undecided. The poll's margin of error is +/- 2.5, and some figures appear to be rounded up, resulting in totals not always adding up to 100 percent.
The speculation surrounding President Joe Biden's potential replacement as the Democratic presidential candidate escalated following his first debate with Trump on June 27. The 81-year-old incumbent's performance, marked by several instances of lost train of thought, prompted calls from prominent Democrats, including four members of Congress, for Biden to withdraw from the race. In the wake of the debate, Vice President Kamala Harris emerged as the most likely Democratic 2024 presidential nominee, according to U.K. betting company William Hill.
The HarrisX survey found that among those who watched the June 27 debate, 67 percent believed Trump outperformed his rival, compared to 33 percent who favored Biden. Among registered voters overall, 44 percent thought Trump performed best, 18 percent favored Biden, while 33 percent felt neither candidate performed well, and five percent believed both performed equally well.
Kennedy, an environmentalist and vaccine skeptic, initially ran against Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination. Despite his decision to run as an independent, he faces a challenging task to secure a spot on the ballot in all 50 states. In an interview with NewsNation's Chris Cuomo, Kennedy expressed his willingness to be the Democratic nominee if Biden were to drop out and if the party showed interest. "Of course I would talk to them. It would put me on the ballot with nobody trying to get me off," Kennedy stated.
Kennedy recently found himself embroiled in controversy after a photograph surfaced of him next to what appeared to be a barbecued canine. Despite a veterinarian's assessment that the animal was likely a dog due to its rib cage, Kennedy insisted it was a goat. In response to the ensuing backlash, Kennedy's campaign team issued an email to media outlets titled "No, RFK Jr. Doesn't Eat Dogs," describing the article as a "hit piece" and accusing its authors of attempting to "smear his character and divert attention from the real issue at hand."
The shifting dynamics of this hypothetical presidential race underscore the potential impact of third-party candidates on election outcomes. It also highlights the importance of candidate performance in debates, which can significantly influence public perception and support. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the role of independent candidates like Kennedy in shaping electoral outcomes remains a topic of keen interest.
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