Robert F. Kennedy Jr., currently an independent presidential candidate, has put forth a unique proposal to ensure that the 2024 election does not result in a split vote that could inadvertently benefit one of the major party candidates. At a recent press conference in Brooklyn, Kennedy introduced what he calls the “no-spoiler pledge,” aimed at determining which candidate between himself and President Joe Biden would be more likely to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election.
Kennedy’s pledge involves a mutual agreement between himself and Biden to commission a joint nationwide poll of likely voters in October 2024. This extensive poll, involving at least 30,000 respondents, would provide a virtually zero margin of error in assessing which candidate would stand a better chance in a head-to-head matchup against Trump.
According to Kennedy, the terms of the pledge would require that the candidate who shows weaker performance against Trump in the poll would withdraw from the race, thereby consolidating support against Trump. Kennedy argued that this approach would prevent either him or Biden from acting as a spoiler in the November election, potentially splitting the vote in a way that could allow Trump to win.
Kennedy, who has shifted from running as a Democrat to an independent, highlighted internal polling data from his campaign involving over 26,000 participants across all 50 states. He used this data to assert that he is a viable candidate who could potentially outperform Biden against Trump.
The Biden campaign has yet to respond to Kennedy’s proposal, but the Democratic National Committee has expressed skepticism. DNC spokesperson Matt Corridoni criticized Kennedy, suggesting that his campaign is not serious and that he is being used as a tool by the MAGA GOP and supported by Trump’s major donors.
Kennedy’s challenge comes amid ongoing debates within both major parties about the impact of third-party or independent candidates on election outcomes. With his pledge, Kennedy aims to address these concerns head-on by proposing a data-driven solution that could potentially unify anti-Trump voters around a single candidate.
As the campaign progresses, Kennedy continues to push for inclusion on the ballot in all 50 states, a significant undertaking for any independent candidate. His campaign has already achieved ballot access in several states, including California, Utah, and Michigan, through various means including endorsements from minor parties and successful petition drives.
Kennedy’s proposal for a “no-spoiler” agreement marks a novel approach in modern political campaigns, aiming to address the strategic calculations that often influence voting behavior in tightly contested elections.