Kevin McCarthy, former House Speaker, contended that President Biden might have exited the 2024 race sooner if he had debated independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. McCarthy argued that the Democratic Party’s expulsion of Kennedy and the subsequent promotion of Vice President Harris, who replaced Biden after his withdrawal, would have been challenged had Harris faced a competitive primary.
“Consider how the Democrats treated Kennedy,” McCarthy remarked during his appearance on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime.” “They expelled him and refused to let him debate. If Kennedy had faced Biden in a debate, Biden likely would have withdrawn much earlier,” he asserted. “It would have revealed that Kamala Harris’s statements about Biden were misleading, and she wouldn’t have secured the nomination if she had to compete in a primary.
McCarthy argues that Biden’s poor debate performance against Trump in June increased pressure from party leaders for him to reconsider his 2024 run
The only way she became the nominee was through the process they used.” In late June, Biden debated Trump on CNN, but his performance raised concerns about his age due to unclear and stumbling statements. This led to increased pressure from party leaders and donors, urging him to reconsider running for another term, a sentiment mirrored in subsequent polls.
Kennedy began his 2024 campaign as a Democrat but switched to an independent run in October. Recently, his poll numbers fell from low double digits, and he announced on Friday that he would suspend his campaign and endorse Trump.
McCarthy, who was removed from his speakership last October, noted that Kennedy’s endorsement could impact battleground states.
“Biden won by a narrow margin, with polling numbers higher than Harris’s current figures. Kennedy’s endorsement could be crucial,” he explained. “The reception Kennedy received at Trump’s Arizona event suggests his influence is obvious.”
He also speculated on the impact of Kennedy’s endorsement, pondering whether John F. Kennedy, given his different positions, would still align with today’s Democratic Party.
McCarthy suggested Trump should frequently include Kennedy in his campaign efforts, stating, “Having Kennedy join Trump regularly could be beneficial. Kennedy’s presence might resonate with the American public.”
McCarthy acknowledged that while Kennedy might not shift the election by a large margin, his appeal to independents and disenchanted Democrats could be imporant.
“While Kennedy may not secure 20 percent of the vote, Trump doesn’t need that much,” McCarthy said. “The key battlegrounds like Pennsylvania and Georgia could be decided by fewer than 100,000 votes, and Kennedy could attract libertarians, independents, and disillusioned Democrats.”
