The Democratic Party has recently escalated its criticism of independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., marking the first significant attempt by either party to influence voter sentiment around his candidacy ahead of a potential 2020 election rematch.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has made several moves to depict Kennedy as a potential spoiler who could aid Republican frontrunner Donald Trump in defeating President Joe Biden. The DNC argues that Kennedy’s campaign is primarily funded by wealthy donors who are aligned with the former president.
Last week, the DNC lodged a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, alleging illegal coordination between Kennedy’s campaign and American Values 2024, a PAC supporting his White House bid. Kennedy’s campaign has refuted these allegations.
In a press call detailing the complaint, DNC adviser Ramsey Reid accused Trump and his donors of transforming Kennedy into a “stalking horse” by funding the PAC. Reid expressed concern that Trump is undermining the democratic process by propping up RFK Jr. as a stalking horse.
The DNC has focused on donations to the PAC from billionaire Tim Mellon, a banking heir and prolific donor to pro-Trump and other GOP causes. Mellon donated roughly $15 million to American Values 2024 last year and $20 million to America First Action Inc., a leading group supporting Trump’s reelection in 2020.
As Kennedy held a campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday, the DNC sponsored four billboards in the area accusing Kennedy of being “powered by MAGA/Trump.” Following the release of a new TV ad by the Kennedy-aligned PAC during the Super Bowl, the DNC issued a statement emphasizing the PAC’s funding from Mellon.
“It’s fitting that the first national ad promoting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s candidacy was bought and paid for by Donald Trump’s largest donor this cycle,” DNC rapid response director Alex Floyd said in a statement released shortly after the ad aired Sunday.
CNN has reached out to the Kennedy campaign for comment. DNC adviser Lis Smith told CNN the party’s latest efforts are meant to educate voters on the connections between Trump and Kennedy, while acknowledging the critical role Kennedy could play in the general election.
“It’s clear that Donald Trump and his allies view him as a useful stalking horse who could help throw the election to Trump in November,” Smith said.
While his independent campaign faces steep odds of success, Kennedy’s candidacy could influence the outcome of a Biden-Trump rematch if he garners enough support in critical states. In the 2020 election, Biden flipped three states – Arizona, Georgia and Wisconsin – by margins of less than 1%. Recent national polling of a Trump-Biden rematch suggests the race could be narrowly decided again.
An NBC News poll released this month found 34% of registered voters saying they could see themselves supporting Kennedy. But Kennedy’s allies have targeted Biden and Democrats as they look to gain traction in the race, a sign they’re ready to meet the DNC’s escalating attacks head on.
In a statement released after the Super Bowl ad, American Values 2024 co-founder Mark Gorton criticized the DNC for its efforts targeting Kennedy. “The only argument the DNC has left is that Biden is not Trump. When RFK Jr. gets on the ballot, the American public will have the ability to choose a candidate who is not Trump, who has integrity, bravery, a proven track record of fighting corporate corruption, and the ability to stand up to the corporate interests that have taken over the Biden administration. The American people are waking up, and the DNC’s only hope is to prevent them from having a choice,” Gorton said.
Contributions to this report were made by CNN’s Edward-Isaac Dovere and David Wright.