Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his campaign and threw his support behind former President Donald Trump, potentially causing disruptions in Vice President Kamala Harris's path to victory. Despite Kennedy's modest national polling figures at around 5 percent, many conservative pollsters and a few unsuspecting mainstream polling companies think this move could significantly influence the tight race between the leading contenders, as reported by The New York Post.
Dave Wasserman of Cook Political Report highlighted that much of Kennedy’s support, primarily from the left, had already shifted towards Harris. Thus, Kennedy's endorsement of Trump is seen as a potential boon for the former president.
The battleground states, where even minor shifts can determine the election outcome, may feel this impact most acutely. According to Wasserman, "In our August survey across key states, we observed that 46 percent of RFK’s backers would prefer Trump in a two-way contest, with only 26 percent leaning towards Harris." This realignment follows a trend where Kennedy's backing had dwindled from 8 percent to 5 percent on a national scale.
Chris Lane from Cygnal pointed out that among swing voters — who are crucial in deciding the election’s direction — 16 percent had shown an inclination to vote for RFK. Given the extremely close margins experienced in several battleground states recently, this group's redirection towards Trump could be decisive. Lane further noted that these swing voters predominantly lean more towards the center-right and are likely to enhance Trump’s share of ballots.
Pollster Frank Luntz also weighed in on the development during an appearance on NewsNation with host Leland Vittert. He opined that Kennedy's endorsement might provide about a 1% advantage to Trump in swing states — a seemingly small percentage that could nonetheless sway the overall result given how tight races have been.
Moreover, Luntz criticized the media’s reaction to Kennedy’s endorsement decision and suggested a bias depending on whom he endorsed. Scott Rasmussen of Rasmussen Reports revealed recent poll results indicating a slight edge for Trump following RFK Jr.'s withdrawal and endorsement—underscoring just how significant even small changes in voter sentiment can be amidst closely contested elections.
This unexpected alliance between Kennedy and Trump underscores not only the unpredictable nature of political races but also highlights how rapidly shifting allegiances can alter campaign dynamics—especially in an election cycle characterized by narrow margins across critical swing states.
Dave Wasserman of Cook Political Report highlighted that much of Kennedy’s support, primarily from the left, had already shifted towards Harris. Thus, Kennedy's endorsement of Trump is seen as a potential boon for the former president.
The battleground states, where even minor shifts can determine the election outcome, may feel this impact most acutely. According to Wasserman, "In our August survey across key states, we observed that 46 percent of RFK’s backers would prefer Trump in a two-way contest, with only 26 percent leaning towards Harris." This realignment follows a trend where Kennedy's backing had dwindled from 8 percent to 5 percent on a national scale.
Chris Lane from Cygnal pointed out that among swing voters — who are crucial in deciding the election’s direction — 16 percent had shown an inclination to vote for RFK. Given the extremely close margins experienced in several battleground states recently, this group's redirection towards Trump could be decisive. Lane further noted that these swing voters predominantly lean more towards the center-right and are likely to enhance Trump’s share of ballots.
Pollster Frank Luntz also weighed in on the development during an appearance on NewsNation with host Leland Vittert. He opined that Kennedy's endorsement might provide about a 1% advantage to Trump in swing states — a seemingly small percentage that could nonetheless sway the overall result given how tight races have been.
Moreover, Luntz criticized the media’s reaction to Kennedy’s endorsement decision and suggested a bias depending on whom he endorsed. Scott Rasmussen of Rasmussen Reports revealed recent poll results indicating a slight edge for Trump following RFK Jr.'s withdrawal and endorsement—underscoring just how significant even small changes in voter sentiment can be amidst closely contested elections.
This unexpected alliance between Kennedy and Trump underscores not only the unpredictable nature of political races but also highlights how rapidly shifting allegiances can alter campaign dynamics—especially in an election cycle characterized by narrow margins across critical swing states.
