Democratic National Committee Reacts to RFK Jr.’s VP Pick

RFK Jr

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) responded strongly to RFK Jr.’s selection of a running mate, with one DNC surrogate likening him to “Donald Trump with a Kennedy name slapped on him.” Kennedy, running as an independent presidential candidate, faced criticism over his choice for vice president, Nicole Shanahan, with concerns raised about her ability to finance ballot access in various states.

RFK Jr: Winning Chances

Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow emphasized the lack of a viable path for Kennedy to win the presidency and highlighted concerns about the spread of misinformation regarding vaccine safety by Kennedy and Shanahan. California Rep. Robert Garcia echoed these sentiments, labeling Kennedy as a conspiracy theorist who spreads falsehoods damaging to public health, a sentiment exacerbated by Shanahan’s alignment with anti-vaccine narratives.

Shanahan, speaking in Oakland, California, advocated for additional research into the causes of chronic diseases while questioning the cumulative impact of medications and vaccines on children’s health. Despite Shanahan’s past donations to Democratic candidates, DNC surrogates rejected the notion that Kennedy’s choice signaled dissatisfaction among party donors or voters with President Joe Biden. Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis asserted that Kennedy’s candidacy only served to potentially siphon votes away from Biden, aiding Trump’s reelection efforts, a scenario the DNC vowed to prevent.