A campaign spokesman for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s New York operation told a group of Republican voters Friday that the independent candidate may help former President Donald Trump in his rematch with Joe Biden.
Rita Palma, identifying herself as Kennedy’s New York state director, encouraged GOP voters to sign a petition to put Kennedy on the ballot in New York, arguing that doing so would “get rid of Biden” and could even give former President Trump a win in a heavily Democratic state, according to a video of the event that Uncle Mertie posted on the YouTube account before removing it.
“The only way that Trump can even have a remote possibility of taking New York is if Bobby is on the ballot,” he stated. “If it’s Trump vs. Biden, Biden wins.”
Kennedy has constantly denied being a spoiler for either candidate.
Palma, who began working for the campaign as a ballot access specialist coordinating volunteer shifts in New York a few weeks ago, also said that Kennedy may win New York, which could benefit Trump.
“Assign those 28 (New York) electoral votes to Bobby rather than Biden, decreasing Biden’s 270.” And we all know how it works, right? 270 wins the election,” Palma explained. “If you don’t get to 270, if no one sees 270, Congress will choose the president, correct?” We currently have a Republican majority in Congress.”
In reaction to Palma’s remarks, the campaign stated, “[Rita Palma] is not involved in electoral strategy, either nationally or in New York.” “This was not a campaign event.”
“Palma was speaking as a private citizen, and her statements in no way reflect the strategy of the Kennedy campaign, which is to win the White House with votes from former Trump and Biden supporters alike,” the campaign said in a statement sent to CBS News on Monday. However, the campaign’s website indicates that she has a “team Kennedy” email account.
Palma also stated in the video that she canvassed for Trump in Pennsylvania in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. She also pushed Pennsylvania voters to knock on doors in support of Trump’s campaign.
“Go to Pennsylvania,” she instructed. “Go to Pennsylvania if you want to help Trump.” “Knock on the doors.”
The Kennedy campaign claims that RFK Jr.’s campaign is a spoiler for both Biden and Trump, but Palma informed voters that the independent longshot is more of a problem for Biden. She referenced the creation of a body by the Democratic National Committee with the intention of undermining third-party campaigns.
“He’s actually pulling a little bit more from Biden, which explains why the DNC is kind of ganging up on him,” Palma told CNN.
Palma’s statements reveal that the campaign’s supporters have different goals, causing Democrats to speculate that some Trump loyalists are supporting Kennedy in order to help the former president return to the White House.
“RFK Jr.’s campaign isn’t building a plan or strategy to get 270 electoral votes; they’re building one to help Trump return to the Oval Office,” DNC spokesperson Matt Corridoni said in a statement Monday.
The incident is the second occasion in a week that the campaign has highlighted splits in its approach to rallying people for the independent candidate.
Kennedy delivered three statements over the weekend in an attempt to backtrack on prior comments dubbing Jan. 6 protesters “activists” with “no weapons,” following the campaign’s publication of an incorrect fundraising commercial.
Kennedy apologized in a revised statement on Saturday, stating, “My understanding that none of the January 6 rioters who invaded the capitol were carrying firearms was incorrect.”
“We have convicted several individuals for bringing guns into the Capitol building.” Others assaulted Capitol Police with pepper spray, bludgeons, and other homemade weapons. “This behavior is inexcusable,” he stated.
The campaign stated that it has canceled its relationship with the marketing firm that created the fundraising commercial.
