Politics

Report: RFK Jr. Considers Rodgers, Ventura as Running Mate

MAR 13 2024·Updated MAR 15 2024

Story

Image credit: John Nacion/Contributor/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

The Facts

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — the son of former US Attorney General Robert Kennedy and nephew of former Pres. John F. Kennedy — told CNN on Tuesday he will announce the identity of his running mate within the next two weeks.
CNN
This comes as The New York Times on Tuesday reported Kennedy had reached out to NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers and former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura about the No. 2 slot on his ticket.
nytimes
As an independent candidate, Kennedy has faced challenges that are both expensive and time-consuming in trying to secure a place on many states' ballots. Some states require an independent candidate to name a running mate before they're approved for their ballots.
ap
Others among those reportedly on Kennedy's list of potential running mates are former Hawaii US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and entrepreneur Andrew Yang, who previously ran for president and mayor of New York City.
nytimes
Kennedy, who opted to run as an independent after failing to make headway against Pres. Joe Biden in the Democratic Party, and Rodgers, who's currently a member of the New York Jets, are close friends and are each vocal about their opposition to COVID mRNA vaccines.
One America
Ventura and Kennedy share an affinity for alternative theories about what happened to the US on Sept. 11, 2001.
ABC News

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Kennedy continues to run an unserious campaign that's besmirching his family's legacy and could potentially spoil Biden's reelection. Even his relatives oppose his campaign. His ties to Rodgers and Ventura are built on conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine sentiments, and this is as dangerous to the country while he's on the campaign trail as it would be if he somehow got elected to the White House.

Guardian

Establishment-critical narrative

Kennedy isn't tarnishing his family's reputation, he's actually carrying on the legacy of what his father and grandfather believed. He should be a spoiler to both Biden and Republican nominee Donald Trump because he wants to beat them in a three-way race — a possibility according to the polls. Independents are a huge voting bloc, and Kennedy is representing those citizens well.