Staff Reports
Nicole Shanahan, the former running mate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in his short-lived 2024 presidential campaign, recently took a moment to marvel at the political gymnastics happening in swing states across the nation. It seems that states like Michigan and Wisconsin, which are critical for the upcoming election, are scrambling to keep Kennedy’s name on the ballot despite his suspension of the campaign and his endorsement of former President Donald Trump. What’s the catch? It might just be a strategy to siphon off some votes from both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, because who wouldn’t want to muddy the waters in such a high-stakes match-up?
Originally, the powers that be in those very states had reservations about allowing Kennedy on the ballot. But as the election draws near, their position has done a complete 180. Shanahan called this shift quite the display of irony, highlighting the duplicity of these officials. While these swing states cling to Kennedy’s name, there is a sense that this might throw a wrench into both Trump’s and Harris’s electoral gears. Kennedy can technically still withdraw from these states, but the argument being made is that it doesn’t seem advantageous for anyone involved.
Shanahan also engaged in a bit of a spar with New York’s legal system, pointing out the hefty financial resources being poured into keeping her and Kennedy off the ballot in the Empire State. A judge had previously booted Kennedy from the ballot, ruling that he misrepresented his residency—claiming to reside in New York when he was, in fact, calling California home. This is the type of quirky political melodrama that keeps voters on their toes, particularly in a state already known for its convoluted election laws.
The strategy seems to tilt towards a larger plan where Kennedy remains on the ballot in about 40 states, declaring their campaign is “suspended” but not entirely finished. This plotting follows Kennedy’s call for supporters to keep backing him, especially in races deemed too close for comfort. It’s a classic move in the political playbook: stick around, create a distraction, and let the chips fall where they may.
Nicole Shanahan calls swing states ‘incredibly disingenuous’ for keeping RFK Jr. on ballots https://t.co/CO1qPoHjva
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) August 29, 2024
A particularly amusing twist in this saga is the filing in Oregon, where Kennedy aims to appear on the ballot representing the We the People Party—this filed just days after he suspended his presidential run. The underlying aim, as Shanahan explains, is to disrupt the two-party system in a big way. By positioning themselves as a legitimate alternative, they hope to tug at the strings of the political landscape, proving that there’s appetite for third parties. While their campaign may be sputtering, the struggle to bring fresh ideas—and a fresh brand of health, as claimed—into the political conversation might just be their legacy amidst the ballot confusion.
