The Daily Blast: Yikes: RFK Jr.’s Rich Running Mate Just Added $8 Million to His Effort
May 17, 2024
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Veteran Democratic strategist Stephanie Schriock discusses Nicole Shanahan's $8 million donation to RFK Jr.'s campaign, highlighting the potential spoiler threat. They delve into the impact on swing states, challenges in the campaign, reaching uninformed voters, and the peril of spoiler candidates to democracy.
Nicole Shanahan's $8 million donation to RFK Jr.'s campaign enhances their presence in swing states.
RFK Jr.'s potential as a spoiler in the election raises concerns about division within the anti-Trump electoral coalition.
Deep dives
Major Financial Support from RFK Jr.'s Running Mate
Nicole Shanahan, RFK Jr.'s running mate, has significantly boosted his campaign with a total contribution of $10 million, aiming to secure ballot placements in multiple swing states. The substantial financial backing from Shanahan has facilitated signature collection efforts, ensuring RFK's potential appearance on ballots across battleground states.
RFK and Shanahan's Spoiler Role
RFK and Shanahan acknowledge their role as likely spoilers rather than serious contenders for victory, with Shanahan expressing a realistic view of their chances. Despite RFK polling at around 10% nationally, there's concern that a portion of his support could diminish by the fall, potentially impacting the election outcomes, especially among young and non-white voters.
Challenges in Countering RFK's Influence
The challenge lies in educating voters about RFK's positions, particularly among young and non-white demographics who may not be fully informed. Battling misinformation spread through social media poses a significant hurdle, requiring targeted efforts to counter biased narratives and ensure accurate information reaches voters to prevent potential division within the anti-Trump electoral coalition.
This week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, dropped a bomb: She announced a donation of another $8 million to his campaign. That’s substantially more than her initial $2 million, and suggests much more is coming. Which is a reminder: It’s still very plausible that RFK Jr. will get on the ballot in many of the swing states that will decide the election. We talked to veteran Democratic strategist Stephanie Schriock, who explains why Shanahan’s wealth suggests it’s time to take the RFK Jr. spoiler threat very, very seriously.