Introducing the president, Kerry Kennedy — RFK Jr.’s sister and daughter of former U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy — hailed Biden as “my hero.”
“President Biden has defended all the rights and freedoms defended by my father and uncle. That’s why almost all of Joe and Rose Kennedy’s grandchildren support Joe Biden,” Kennedy said, referring to his first cousins.
Then, as if to remove any doubt, she added: “It’s true: the Kennedy family supports Joe Biden for president. »
For years, family members have criticized RFK Jr. for his role in spreading misinformation about vaccines. But it was the decision of the black sheep of the family to launch his presidential campaign, first as a “Kennedy Democrat” and now as a third party candidate, that brought the full force of the clan against each other. Kennedy to him.
Democrats fear that in close elections, when third-party candidates While Kennedy is expected to wield rare influence, Kennedy could harm Biden more than former President Donald Trump, in part because of the family’s powerful historical ties to the Democratic Party.
As a result, the Kennedy family has engaged in increasingly public efforts to show support for Biden and has rejected their relative’s offer as a dangerous step. disruption of the high-stakes 2024 elections.
The family’s efforts to bolster Biden against RFK Jr. are also rooted in a desire to protect Kennedy’s legacy, some people with knowledge of the family said.
“They want to continue their father’s mission, and (RFK Jr.’s campaign) is not the right way to do it,” said Phil Johnston, a former chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party with longtime ties to with the family. “Everyone who supports Biden should be aware of the history of third-party candidates. This is a serious threat to Joe Biden’s candidacy, and I think the Kennedys feel Biden represents their values more than Bobby Jr. Simple as that.”
“They believe they can help prevent a catastrophe for our country,” Johnston added. “This is something that is close to the heart of the Kennedy family.”
Thursday’s event was months in the making. The Kennedy family initiated planning for the group’s approval, according to a source familiar with the strategy who asked to speak anonymously to discuss internal plans.
During his presidential campaign, RFK Jr. often invoked Kennedy’s legacy — a tactic that sometimes angered members of his family.
In one case, a controversial Super Bowl ad paid for by an outside group that supports RFK Jr. featured the candidate superimposed on his uncle John F. Kennedy, in a remake of one of the country’s most famous political ads that some family members and the critics said hijacked the last name. RFK Jr. apologized, but the publicity stay posted on his X account (formerly Twitter).
For some of The motley group of Kennedy supporters, the dynasty is void; for other supporters, RFK Jr. appeals as an anti-establishment outsider.
When news of his support broke Thursday, the family avoided directly criticizing RFK Jr., but made clear they believed voting for him threatened the country.
Joe Kennedy III, the former Massachusetts congressman who is now Biden’s special envoy to Northern Ireland, said in a Globe interview Thursday that in this close election, “you have one vote for Joe Biden, and you have to vote for someone else.
“If for any reason you are not convinced to vote for the president, then you need to understand that the consequences of that vote will mean that it will increase support for Donald Trump,” he added.
Joe Kennedy would not say whether he had spoken directly to RFK Jr. about his campaign and did not go so far as to call on him to withdraw from the race.
“I would never tell someone they can’t or shouldn’t run,” he said. But third-party candidates “need to understand that there are consequences.”
“If they fail to win the election, does their continued participation in a race increase the likelihood that someone with an antithetical view will be more likely to win?” he said.
The family has become increasingly vocal since RFK Jr. launched his campaign last April.
In October, when RFK Jr. turned to a third-party campaign, several family members denounced this decision as “perilous for our country”. Then, in March, Dozens of Kennedy family members posed with Biden for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the White Housein a pointed snub to their loved one.
At the event in Philadelphia, Biden emphasized the important resonance that the Kennedy family legacy carries for him — as well as its closeness to his rival’s loved ones. He said he has a bust of Robert F. Kennedy Sr. in the Oval Office and that earlier this month he called RFK Jr.’s mother, Ethel, to wish her a happy birthday.
“What an incredible honor,” Biden said, repeating the phrase, “to have the support of the Kennedy family.”
Joe Kennedy III noted that Biden had a personal relationship with many family members and said he and others would continue to fight for Biden “as the campaign sees fit and as they think we can be helpful” .
For his part, RFK Jr. brushed aside the snub on Thursday, writing on “We are divided in our opinions but united in our love for one another.”
“I see this as a possibility for America too,” he wrote. “Can we disagree without hating our opponents? Can we restore civility and respect in public discourse? I think we can.”
I heard that some of my family members will be supporting President Biden today. I’m glad they’re politically active – it’s a family tradition. We are divided in our opinions but united in our love for one another.
I see this as a possibility for America too. Can we disagree without…
– Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) April 18, 2024
And RFK Jr. also took the opportunity to tout a notable victory for his campaign: He won access to the ballot in battleground state Michigan, state officials confirmed. This isn’t the first state where the candidate has confirmed he or she will appear on the ballot — that can be a challenge for third-party candidates — but it’s an important step given how critical Michigan could be to general elections.
Not everyone in the Kennedy family rejected RFK Jr.’s offer. His campaign manager, Amaryllis Fox, is his daughter-in-law. RFK Jr. said in his social media post Thursday that “many members of my family work and support” his campaignbut the campaign did not respond to a request for a list.
Biden campaign officials have listed more than a dozen Kennedy family members who support the president, but said many more will support Biden this fall.
Emma Platoff can be contacted at emma.platoff@globe.com. Am here @emmaplatoff.
