As the Libertarian Party delegates vote on Sunday to select their presidential candidate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent, will be considered for the nomination.
On Sunday, a delegate nominated Kennedy, who had already spoken at the party’s national convention in Washington, DC, on Friday; other delegates booed his candidacy.
Even though former president Donald Trump was nominated on Sunday at the convention, Libertarian Party Chair Angela McArdle determined that he was not qualified to be nominated as he did not submit the necessary paperwork. When Trump implored conventiongoers to “nominate me or at least vote for me.” on Saturday, he was booed repeatedly and loudly.
In a brief video speech, Kennedy acknowledged the nomination and expressed gratitude to party members for the “unexpected honor.” To oppose Trump and Vice President Joe Biden, he argued that Libertarians should form “an alliance” with independents and third parties.
Kennedy expressed his gratitude to the Libertarian Party for the honor and expressed his anticipation of a nationwide alliance formed by independent parties that will challenge the corrupt duopoly between Republicans and Democrats.
There was a tiny handful of delegates who gave Kennedy’s video a gentle applause. The audience booed his surrogates as they gave speeches promoting his Libertarian candidacy before to his acceptance.
Last week, Kennedy informed AWN that he had no intention of running for the party candidacy at this weekend’s conference.
According to New Jersey Libertarian delegate Tim O’Brien, Kennedy seemed to be exploiting the party for personal benefit without regard for its principles.
Lots of individuals have shown up to the party, made a scene, and then bolted. O’Brien assured the crowd that although he might visit, he would leave after the election.
“We want folks that are willing to say, ‘We’re Libertarians, we’re remaining with you guys,'” he added. “We are unnecessary to him. He is seeking access to the ballot box.
Before leaving his party to run as an independent, Kennedy, a former Democrat, started courting Libertarian politicians. He met with McArdle in July and February to discuss their shared principles.
Kennedy might have taken advantage of the Libertarian Party’s access to ballots in dozens of states by running on the Libertarian ticket, which would have allowed him to avoid obstacles to ballot access. While the Libertarians have 38 states on their ballots, Kennedy has only made it to the ballot in six.
Campaign co-chair Nicole Shanahan, who is running against Kennedy, told AWN in the days leading up to her address on Sunday that the Libertarian Party is “more relevant than ever” and expressed her hope that Kennedy and the Libertarians can collaborate.
“I believe that there are many areas where our interests overlap, and we share many commonalities. I also believe that our collaboration has a high potential for success,” the Silicon Valley entrepreneur and attorney stated. Since joining Kennedy’s campaign in March, Shanahan has avoided taking questions from major news outlets. Her statements today are her first such interview.
Kennedy told AWN last week at a Colorado event that Libertarians will like his stances on COVID-19, foreign policy, and the environment.
“Libertarians are drawn to my approach because it is a free-market approach,” he stated. I believe that opposing war is another crucial topic for libertarians, and I am personally against it. The rights guaranteed by the Constitution have my full support. During the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump stripped us of our constitutional rights. Libertarians are more likely to back me if they live by their principles, in my opinion.
In recent weeks, Trump and Kennedy have intensified their attacks on each other. The former president’s advisers see the independent’s White House campaign as a possible obstacle in an election that may be decided by a small margin in a few states.
SSRS ran an AWN poll last month and found that 16% of respondents supported Kennedy, suggesting that he is stealing votes from Trump and Biden.
Trump has escalated his attacks on Kennedy in tandem with the threat’s crystallization. Now that he’s out of office, the former president frequently criticizes Kennedy in speeches and online. Trump branded Kennedy a “Democrat plant” in a lengthy video he released earlier this month.