RFK Jr.’s running mate Nicole Shanahan called Rep. Ro Khanna’s open letter asking him to resign “undemocratic.”
Shanahan, a lawyer and technology entrepreneur, was picked by Kennedy last month to be his number two on the list.
Khanna warned that supporting Kennedy could help pave the way for former President Donald Trump to win the election.
In a letter he shared with CBS NewsHe said, “Even Trump himself and other members of his team have admitted that an RFK Jr. candidacy will help his re-election.”
Although he shared the letter, he had not yet sent it to Shanahan, and after CBS contacted her, she issued a statement on her X profile.
In it, Shanahan responded to Khanna, saying he had changed his stance “based on party pressure” and that his comments were “undemocratic.”
Shanahan, a lawyer and technology entrepreneur, was picked by Kennedy last month to be his No. 2 on the list.
Khanna warned that supporting Kennedy could help pave the way for former President Donald Trump to win the election.
Although he shared the letter, he had not yet sent it to Shanahan and after CBS contacted her, she issued a statement on her X profile.
Her post read: “In my conversation with Ro, he congratulated me on the position and encouraged me to apply, stating that all Americans have the right to run in this country.”
‘He said we live in a democracy and it was wrong for someone to threaten me not to show up.
‘Clearly, Ro has changed his stance due to party pressure. I hope he understands how undemocratic it is to ask someone to resign from a career that empowers the American public to make their own decisions.
‘I am very disappointed that you have been pressured to send me this letter publicly. He could have called me privately. You have my direct line.
In the letter, Khanna said, “I am deeply concerned that Robert F. Kennedy’s name on the ballot in swing states could tip the election in Trump’s favor.”
“Another Trump presidency would be disastrous for our environment, our economy and our democracy.
“We need you in the Democratic coalition to help re-elect President Biden and advance bold climate solutions.”
After his post on X, RFK Jr. posted: ‘I am so grateful for your courage and grace, Nicole.
‘I have always admired RoKhanna. Her flip flop here is disappointing. The party has the power to force men of character to resign.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks with supporters during a campaign event on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday introduced Nicole Shanahan, a Silicon Valley lawyer and ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, as his vice presidential pick.
Ro Khanna followed up with his own response, writing: ‘Nicole has every right to be on the list.
“What I have told her, both publicly and privately, has been that RFK Jr.’s candidacy threatens the very issues she cares about, like the climate and abortion rights, and welcoming her to the Democratic Party.” .
Shanahan, the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, called herself a “disillusioned Democrat” when she was announced as Kennedy’s running mate.
The avid surfer and investor had already donated $4.5 million to a super PAC backing Kennedy over the past year and helped pay for a Super Bowl ad that featured him.
Shanahan had also donated funds to Khanna in the past, giving $17,000 to the representative, according to CBS.
RFK Jr. has double-digit support and polls suggest the independent candidate is hurting President Biden more than Trump.
JL Partners surveyed 1,000 potential voters from March 20 to 24 via landline, mobile, SMS and apps. The results have a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.
RFK Jr. has double-digit support and polls suggest the independent candidate is hurting President Biden more than Trump
Kennedy’s popularity complicates the strategy of the Biden campaign, which seeks to make the November vote a binary election between Biden and Trump.
In a DailyMail.com poll released late last month, Trump maintained a four-point lead over Biden.
When 1,000 likely voters were asked who they would choose if the election were tomorrow, 39 percent said Biden and 43 percent said they would go for Trump.
With a margin of error of 3.1 points, it suggests the election will go down to the wire and could be decided by just a few thousand voters in swing states.
Both candidates won their parties’ presumptive nominations on the same day: March 12.