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Why Trump Might Pick RFK Jr. as His Running Mate

January 9, 2024 · 4:47 pm ET · Leave a Comment

John Ellis: “First, Mr. Kennedy is unlikely to get on the ballot in all 50 states. He’s unlikely to get on the ballot in 25 states. The ‘No Labels’ movement — which has substantial financial resources, a disciplined political operation and a lengthy head start — is having a hard time getting on the ballot in all 50 states, because it’s a huge under-taking. If it’s uphill for ‘No Labels,’ it’s a much, much steeper climb for Kennedy.”

“Second, it is believed by some Republican operatives and a number of people in Trump’s ‘brain trust’ that Kennedy will take more votes away from Trump than President Biden in so-called ‘battleground states’. Whether or not this is true doesn’t matter, as long as Team Trump believes it. If Team Trump continues to believe it, something needs to be done.”

“Which brings us to the third thing, which is this: I’m reliably informed that long-time Trump-whisperer Steve Bannon is constantly in Trump’s ear, telling him that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. should be his running mate.”

“That would knock over the chessboard, to say the least.”

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Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.

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