Nicole Shanahan reveals Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign considerations for joining Trump

Kennedy's campaign had already collected sufficient signatures to appear on ballots in all 50 states.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s independent presidential campaign is contemplating whether to merge with Republican nominee Donald Trump or continue in the race as a third-party option, according to Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan.

In an interview on the “Impact Theory” podcast released Tuesday, Shanahan revealed that the campaign is weighing two possibilities: either staying in the race to build a new party and gain more than 5% of the popular vote, or joining forces with Trump and ending their campaign.

Shanahan explained that if they stay in the race, they risk drawing votes away from Trump, potentially aiding Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Alternatively, joining Trump would mean explaining their decision to their supporters. Shanahan acknowledged the difficulty of the choice and indicated she might consider running for governor of California if the campaign ends.

There is uncertainty about whether Kennedy's supporters would shift to Trump if the campaign exits. Some polls suggest Harris could perform better against Trump in swing states with Kennedy in the race. Shanahan emphasized that their goal was not to be a spoiler but to make a real impact, and Kennedy’s campaign has been working to secure ballot access nationwide.

Kennedy's campaign has collected sufficient signatures to appear on ballots in all 50 states, but a judge recently ruled that Kennedy cannot be on the ballot in New York due to residency issues. Kennedy is appealing this decision and also challenging efforts to remove him from ballots in other key states like Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Democratic Party spokesperson Lis Smith criticized Shanahan's comments, suggesting they reveal the Kennedy campaign’s lack of a viable path to victory and labeling it as a spoiler for Trump.