Former President Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are gearing up for a showdown at the Libertarian Party convention this weekend in Washington as they both vie for the party’s voters. The tension between the two candidates is palpable, with Kennedy challenging Trump to a debate at the event.
Trump’s decision to attend the convention is seen as a strategic move to counter Kennedy’s potential threat as he seeks another term in the White House. Republican strategist Ford O’Connell believes that the Trump campaign aims to portray Kennedy as a “far-left whacko” to discredit him in the eyes of voters.
National polling suggests that Kennedy could have a more significant impact on President Biden than Trump in a hypothetical general election scenario. While Trump leads Biden in a head-to-head match-up, including Kennedy and independent candidate Cornel West in the poll widens Trump’s lead over Biden.
However, battleground state polls paint a different picture, with a New York Times/Siena College survey showing a larger share of Trump’s supporters preferring Kennedy in a five-way race. This shift in support could be crucial in swing states like Michigan and Arizona.
Trump has been actively attacking Kennedy on social media and at public events, highlighting their policy differences and past remarks. The feud between the two candidates has drawn attention from both supporters and critics, with some Democrats seeing their clash as a shared need for attention.
As the Libertarian Party convention approaches, both Trump and Kennedy are gearing up for a high-stakes battle for support from party members. With the potential to sway voters in key states, the outcome of their feud could have far-reaching implications for the upcoming election.