RFK Jr. to run as Libertarian?

[jct74]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Flirts With the Libertarian Party
Mr. Kennedy sat down with the party’s chair in July, a previously undisclosed meeting, as Democrats fret about a third party bid.

By Nicholas Nehamas
Sept. 23, 2023

For months, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he plans to continue his long-shot challenge against President Biden in the Democratic primary rather than dropping out to launch a third-party bid.

But lately Mr. Kennedy’s message has seemed to shift, including publicly telling a voter who asked about his plans that he was keeping his “options open.”

If Mr. Kennedy does decide to leave the party of his famous father and uncles to run in the general election, one potential landing spot may be the Libertarian Party, which at the moment lacks a widely known candidate but has excelled at securing ballot access.

In July, Mr. Kennedy met privately with Angela McArdle, the chair of the Libertarian Party, at a conference they were both attending in Memphis — a meeting that has not previously been reported.

“He emphasized that he was committed to running as a Democrat but said that he considered himself very libertarian,” Ms. McArdle said in an interview, adding that they agreed on several positions, including the threat of the “deep state” and the need for populist messaging. “We’re aligned on a lot of issues.”

“My perspective is that we are going to stay in touch in case he does decide to run,” Ms. McArdle said. “And he can contact me at any time if that’s the case.”

...

read more:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/23/us/politics/robert-f-kennedy-jr-libertarian-party.html
https://archive.ph/9enxr

 

[Anti Globalist]

If Kennedy ends up running as an independent would he take more votes from Trump or Biden?

 

[WisconsinLiberty]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Flirts With the Libertarian Party
https://dnyuz.com/2023/09/23/robert-f-kennedy-jr-flirts-with-the-libertarian-party/


Interesting.

 

[unknown]

At this point, would you guys say that hes more aligned with the Ds or Rs ?

 

[Cap]

At this point, would you guys say that hes more aligned with the Ds or Rs ?

My guess is neither, the uni-party (Ds & Rs) are pretty much indistinguishable.

 

[69360]

He wouldn't win as a liberterian, but I'd bet he could get them over the hump for matching funds and ballot access next election.

 

[acptulsa]

He wouldn't win as a liberterian, but I'd bet he could get them over the hump for matching funds and ballot access next election.

Are you saying he doesn't have enough name recognition to overcome his party, or that elections are all rigged?

 

[Anti Federalist]

Meh, the LP party has run worse.

 

[nobody's_hero]

At this point, would you guys say that hes more aligned with the Ds or Rs ?

Favorability probably runs higher with republicans. Although, favorability doesn't necessarily mean they'd vote for him. Probably just means they respect him enough to hear him out.

 

[Snowball]

Probably the fastest quick ballot access he can manage.

He spends 30 cents on the dollar in campaign donations for personal security.

 

[Occam's Banana]

Sure, okay. Why not?

RFK Jr. is absolutely not a libertarian of any kind - but the LP has run progressive Republicans on their POTUS/VP ticket, so why not a progressive Democrat?

There seem to be plenty of disaffected righties, lefties, and indies who might be infatuated with the man enough to vote for him as the LP candidate (especially if Biden & Trump are the D & R nominees) - maybe even enough to result in some down-ballot spillover (i.e., "coattails") for real libertarians. In fact, that's pretty much the only reason I can see for supporting such a move (or, at least, not opposing it as vehemently as one otherwise might). Just as a matter of practical politics, if it happens, the LP should squeeze it for every drop they can get from it. IOW: If RFK Jr. decides (and successfully manages) to "use" the LP like this, then the LP should "use" him right back.

He wouldn't win as a libertarian, but I'd bet he could get them over the hump for matching funds and ballot access next election.

RFK Jr. would not be the one getting the LP "over the hump" on ballot access.

As the OP article pointed out, the LP would be getting RFK Jr. over that hump:

If Mr. Kennedy does decide to leave the party of his famous father and uncles to run in the general election, one potential landing spot may be the Libertarian Party, which at the moment lacks a widely known candidate but has excelled at securing ballot access.

That's almost certainly the major (and perhaps only) reason why he would even be interested in the LP nomination.

 

[RJB]

Maybe Massie or Paul could run for the Green party as an exchange.

 

[Snowball]

I think he will do it.
Any disgruntled purist Libertarians don't matter, they are 1%.
Somebody has to start using the 3rd party as a viable alternative.

 

[69360]

Sure, okay. Why not?

RFK Jr. is absolutely not a libertarian of any kind - but the LP has run progressive Republicans on their POTUS/VP ticket, so why not a progressive Democrat?

There seem to be plenty of disaffected righties, lefties, and indies who might be infatuated with the man enough to vote for him as the LP candidate (especially if Biden & Trump are the D & R nominees) - maybe even enough to result in some down-ballot spillover (i.e., "coattails") for real libertarians. In fact, that's pretty much the only reason I can see for supporting such a move (or, at least, not opposing it as vehemently as one otherwise might). Just as a matter of practical politics, if it happens, the LP should squeeze it for every drop they can get from it. IOW: If RFK Jr. decides (and successfully manages) to "use" the LP like this, then the LP should "use" him right back.



RFK Jr. would not be the one getting the LP "over the hump" on ballot access.

As the OP article pointed out, the LP would be getting RFK Jr. over that hump:


That's almost certainly the major (and perhaps only) reason why he would even be interested in the LP nomination.

I'm talking about future benefit for the LP. I would not be surprised if RFK jr could pull high single digits, low double digits as their candidate. That would get them federal matching funds which would be a game changer for them. Johnson almost did it for them when he ran.

 

[Pauls' Revere]

I'm sure he would take votes but how many for any effect?

 

[Occam's Banana]

I'm talking about future benefit for the LP. I would not be surprised if RFK jr could pull high single digits, low double digits as their candidate. That would get them federal matching funds which would be a game changer for them. Johnson almost did it for them when he ran.

I didn't say anything at all about the "matching funds" angle, one way or the other.

I was addressing the "ballot access" part of your claim that "[RFK Jr.] could get them over the hump for matching funds and ballot access".

The LP doesn't need RFK Jr. for ballot access - just the opposite: he would need them. Getting on the ballot in all 50 states as an independent would be extremely difficult and expensive, and as the OP article pointed out, the LP is far better at it than any of the other alternatives. In fact, that's really the only reason he has for considering seeking the LP nomination in the first place (it certainly isn't due to ideological affinity). I'm pretty sure he doesn't really give a damn about whether it might result in the LP getting matching funds for future campaigns. Why would he? As far as the "matching funds" thing goes, its just another one of those drops the LP might be able to squeeze out of the RFK Jr. lemon:

Just as a matter of practical politics, if it happens, the LP should squeeze it for every drop they can get from it. IOW: If RFK Jr. decides (and successfully manages) to "use" the LP like this, then the LP should "use" him right back.

 

[69360]

I didn't say anything at all about the "matching funds" angle, one way or the other.

I was addressing the "ballot access" part of your claim that "[RFK Jr.] could get them over the hump for matching funds and ballot access".

The LP doesn't need RFK Jr. for ballot access - just the opposite: he would need them. Getting on the ballot in all 50 states as an independent would be extremely difficult and expensive, and as the OP article pointed out, the LP is far better at it than any of the other alternatives. In fact, that's really the only reason he has for considering seeking the LP nomination in the first place (it certainly isn't due to ideological affinity). I'm pretty sure he doesn't really give a damn about whether it might result in the LP getting matching funds for future campaigns. Why would he? As far as the "matching funds" thing goes, its just another one of those drops the LP might be able to squeeze out of the RFK Jr. lemon:

If RFK got them enough votes, which I believe he would, the LP would have automatic ballot acccess in the next election. They wouldn't have to petition for it.

 

[acptulsa]

If RFK got them enough votes, which I believe he would, the LP would have automatic ballot acccess in the next election. They wouldn't have to petition for it.

That depends on the states. And they generally manage that with their own candidate.

Let's face it. There are advantages both can claim from such a "marriage of convenience". But ballot access is definitely the LP's dowry, not Kennedy's.

 

[Occam's Banana]

If RFK got them enough votes, which I believe he would, the LP would have automatic ballot acccess in the next election. They wouldn't have to petition for it.

Like the "matching funds" thing, RFK Jr. has no reason to care about the LP's ballot access for future elections.

He only cares about their present ballot access - which they were already able to achieve without him.

RFK Jr. would need the LP for ballot access. There's no other reason for him to be interested in them.

The LP would not need RFK Jr. for ballot access. Their interest in him would be for other reasons (such as the "matching funds" thing, or down-ballot "coattails", or wider attention to the party and more exposure for their other candidates, or whatever).

 

[69360]

Like the "matching funds" thing, RFK Jr. has no reason to care about the LP's ballot access for future elections.

He only cares about their present ballot access - which they were already able to achieve without him.

RFK Jr. would need the LP for ballot access. There's no other reason for him to be interested in them.

The LP would not need RFK Jr. for ballot access. Their interest in him would be for other reasons (such as the "matching funds" thing, or down-ballot "coattails", or wider attention to the party and more exposure for their other candidates, or whatever).

Right, it's a win/win for both of them. But a mainstream semi viable candidate like RFK jr makes everything so much easier for them. If he hits the threshold, they will not have to collect signatures for ballot access and have more funding next cycle.