WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has ruled out running as a Libertarian candidate in support of his effort to get on the ballot in all 50 states. He held the door open.
“I'm not running as a Libertarian because I have no problem getting on the ballot myself,” he told ABC News.
Speaking from West Des Moines, Iowa, where his campaign is winning, Kennedy touted his Saturday afternoon strategy to use a quirk in state law to get on the Iowa general election ballot as a huge success. The plan was to hold a small, one-day convention in West Des Moines, drawing at least 500 voters, who must come from at least 25 of the state's 99 counties.
The campaign claims to have exceeded that threshold, with members of his team claiming they received 686 qualified delegates representing more than 35 counties in Iowa. The results have not yet been certified by the Iowa Secretary of State's office.
In an interview with ABC News ahead of Saturday's rally, President Kennedy said it would be “easier” to hold a one-day event than collect the 3,500 signatures needed to gain independent access through a petition. He said he felt that there was.
He said he was “100% confident” that these results could be replicated in all 50 states, despite concurrent obstacles to voting participation across the country.
“We'll probably add two or three states a week,” Kennedy said.
Independent candidates running on We the People party tickets appear confident that they will require little or no outside help, and are seeking Libertarian support to support their get-out-the-vote efforts. He told ABC News he had no intention of joining the party.
Libertarian Party Chair Angela McArdle said she would not comment “for at least a few days.” Kennedy, who faces tough voting access efforts as an independent, has left open the option of running for Libertarian leadership, which would ensure voting access everywhere. The group recently expressed concerns about Kennedy's choice as vice president.
And President Kennedy has no intention of running away from the race if he doesn't reach the 33% threshold he says he needs to win by November, even if the result is less than desired at the convention. right.
“I expect to win, and that question should be asked to President Biden,” he said.
Kennedy responded to a New York Times/Siena College poll that gave him a 2% approval rating, saying that the New York Times intentionally distorted the poll methodology to reduce his candidacy. he claimed. The New York Times would do that. ” He later brought it up in his first public appearance.
President Kennedy reacted to news of Iran's retaliatory attack on Israel, telling reporters that “America must bend over backwards to protect Israel,'' but US ground forces will be sent to Israel. He said he did not think it should be done.
“Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. Israel is our oldest ally and I think the United States should bend over backwards to protect Israel. The president will also do everything in his power to defuse this crisis. I think it's necessary.''
“Israel has never in its history asked us to send soldiers, and no, I don't think they should be there.”
Conspicuously absent from the event was the newly chosen vice presidential candidate, attorney Nicole Shanahan. Asked by the ABC to explain his absence, Mr Kennedy said he was unable to attend today because he visited the county's southern border earlier this week and spent time with his daughter, but insisted they were a “united front”. did. ”
“She's been at the border all week and I believe today is the day she gave birth to her daughter. She wasn't able to come on this trip, but we'll be doing a lot of events together in the coming weeks.” ” He said.
“We're a united front. I'm so proud of her. I'm so proud of what she's doing,” he said.
“I talk to Nicole probably two or three times a day. I'm very proud of what she's done and I look forward to appearing with her here and there.”