RFK Jr just endorsed Trump. Will it matter in November?

Robert F Kennedy Jr's solo campaign has ended, but the lingering question continues to follow him: is his backing primarily from individuals who typically align with the Republican or Democratic parties?

His support was dwindling as his base grew smaller. According to RealClearPolitics, an average of opinion polls showed his popularity at 5%, compared to the high teens he had just a few months ago.

However, in an intense competition, the votes for Kennedy could decide whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris will win the upcoming election in November.

Many experts attribute the decrease in Mr. Kennedy's polls to the enthusiasm that Democrats have for their new candidate, Vice President Harris.

Merrill Matthews, a scholar who resides at the Institute for Policy Innovation and specializes in studying third-party campaigns, noted that many individuals sought an alternative choice during the Biden versus Trump election.

"Now that Kamala Harris has entered the scene and secured the Democratic nomination, things have shifted."

Surveys asking about the popularity of independent and third-party candidates, like Jill Stein from the Green Party and activist Cornel West, have not provided clear answers about who is supporting Mr. Kennedy.

In certain instances, they indicate that his participation in the race helps Republicans; in other cases, Democrats; and in just about every poll, the differences are narrow.

However, some people think that many of the liberals who previously supported Mr. Kennedy may have already switched their allegiance to the Democratic party because of Ms. Harris's increasing popularity.

Mr. Matthews explained that with RFK Jr's campaign being suspended, it will result in a slight increase in support for Trump.

"I don't think it will be a lot, since Kennedy's popularity is decreasing in the polls," he mentioned.

However, a small number of votes in key states could make a big difference in an election that seems to be very close right now. Mr. Kennedy is well aware of this, stating on Friday that he will only be removing his name from the voting list in swing states where he thinks his candidacy would harm Trump's chances of winning.

Even though he comes from a well-known Democratic family, Mr. Kennedy used a large portion of his speech to speak out against the party. Throughout his campaign, he also clashed with the traditional Democratic leadership.

During a charity event earlier this spring in the outskirts of Detroit, an important area in the swing state of Michigan, demonstrators from the Democratic party were seen outside carrying signs labeling him as a disruptor.

His choice to endorse Trump will confirm those accusations for Kennedy's skeptics.

Melissa Smith, the writer of Third Parties, Outsiders, and Renegades: Modern Challenges to the Two-Party System in Presidential Elections, believes that some of his supporters will choose Trump in the election, while others may feel unsatisfied with both candidates and may choose not to vote at all.

However, the financial troubles faced by Mr. Kennedy's campaign may have had a greater effect on the election if he had chosen to remain in the race or withdraw at the eleventh hour.

Ms Smith believed that his campaign would only be a minor event in history, and could easily be forgotten in an election full of unexpected twists.

Right now, it seems that Trump is in a stronger position to win over more of the support that Kennedy had previously.

The Trump campaign published a document from its pollster Tony Fabrizio, indicating that Republicans have the opportunity to make progress.

"This is great news for President Trump and his campaign - easily understandable," he stated.

However, endorsing him also carries a certain level of danger for Trump. Democrats are trying to paint the Republican pair as unconventional, suggesting they are not aligned with the typical views of American politics.

Mr. Kennedy's controversial anti-vaccination beliefs may lead to him being targeted for more criticism.

This week's Democratic National Convention had a humorous newspaper that claimed to be funded by the candidate's campaign. The headline read "Kennedy is quirky."

Filled with anti-vaccine messages and hints about conspiracy theories, the main idea was that being "weird" is actually desirable.

The Harris campaign did not mention RFK Jr directly when they commented on the news on Friday.

"If you're an American who is fed up with Donald Trump and looking for a fresh start, our campaign is for you," stated Jen O'Malley Dillon, chair of the Harris campaign.