- New NBC Poll Shows Kennedy Getting More Support from Trump Supporters
- Biden gains two points lead over Trump when Kennedy is included on the list
- Both Biden and Trump attack Kennedy as a dangerous radical
Third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to attract more attention in the 2024 election, according to a new NBC pollas voters fear another showdown between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
Kennedy receives enough support among the electorate to play a decisive role in the 2024 election. Thirteen percent chose Kennedy, significantly more than other third-party candidates such as Jill Stein, who garnered three percent support, and Cornel West, who got two percent.
But the survey of registered voters suggests that Kennedy’s newfound popularity hurts Trump more than Biden.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a campaign event in California
NBC Poll Shows Trump Supporters More Willing to Support Kennedy
In a head-to-head matchup, Trump is two points ahead of Biden, 46 percent to 44 percent. But when Kennedy Jr. appears on the ballot, Biden leads Trump by two points: Biden with 39 percent and Trump with 37 percent.
Only 64 percent of voters say they are very interested in the 2024 election, essentially a rematch of the 2020 election.
Polls showed that Trump voters were more likely to choose Kennedy, when given the chance to choose between potential third-party candidates.
NBC reported that 15 percent of respondents who chose Trump in a head-to-head matchup with Biden chose Kennedy when given the chance. Only seven percent of Biden voters leaned toward Kennedy.
Kennedy also has a much better chance of courting Republican voters, as 40 percent view Kennedy favorably, while only 16 percent of Democrats view him favorably.
Biden has not even publicly acknowledged Kennedy’s entry into the race, although he met Thursday with members of the Kennedy family who enthusiastically endorsed Biden and warned about Trump.
“I can only imagine how Donald Trump’s outrageous lies and behavior would have horrified my father,” said RFK Jr’s sister, Kerry Kennedy.
Kerry Kennedy, accompanied by members of the Kennedy family, speaks before President Joe Biden
US President Joe Biden listens to Kerry Kennedy (R) as she and members of the Kennedy family endorse his presidential campaign.
Biden enjoys a small increase in approval in the new poll. His approval ratings have increased five percent since January, as 42 percent now favor his job performance, up from 37 percent in January. His disapproval ratings have dropped from 60 percent to 56 percent.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledged that his family members supported Biden, but thanked them for being politically active.
“We are divided in our opinions but united in our love for each other,” he said. wrote on social networks.
Kennedy’s campaign held an NBC News poll in February that showed 34 percent of voters could see themselves supporting Kennedy.
In March, he accepted his role as a ‘spoiler’ in the 2024 campaign.
“Their main technique is to call me a saboteur and instill fear in Americans that voting for me will elect another scary candidate,” he said. ‘Our campaign is a saboteur. I agree with that. “He is a spoiler for President Biden and for President Trump.”
The survey was conducted April 12-16 and surveyed 1,000 registered voters nationwide. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.