Biden world joins forces with Camelot

A chronicle of Donald Trump's Crimes or Allegations

Biden world joins forces with Camelot

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The Big Story 

Biden world joins forces with Camelot

Many members of the Kennedy family officially endorsed President Biden on Thursday, despite Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent bid to take the White House.  

© AP Photo/Alex Brandon

The family appeared with Biden at an event in Philadelphia. It was expected to include 15 members of the Kennedy family, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s younger sister, Kerry Kennedy, who spoke on her family’s support for Biden.

 

“President Biden has been a champion for all the rights and freedoms that my father and uncles stood for,” she was set to say, referencing the several major political figures from her family.

 

The endorsement is not a surprise, given the family’s previously stated support for Biden, but is still a major rebuke of their relative as he seeks the presidency. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has leaned on his family relations throughout his campaign, arguing that his administration would be the true continuation of the ideals of his father, former Attorney General Robert Kennedy, and uncle, former President John F. Kennedy.

 

But he has become a bit of a pariah as multiple family members have denounced his candidacy for its principles and the potential for it to help former President Trump win reelection.

 

“I can only imagine how Donald Trump’s outrageous lies and behavior would have horrified my father, Robert F. Kennedy, who proudly served as Attorney General of the United States, and honored his pledge to uphold the law and protect the country,” Kerry Kennedy was set to say at the event. “Daddy stood for equal justice, human rights, and freedom from want and fear. Just as President Biden does today.”

 

Four of Kennedy’s siblings — Kerry, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former Rep. Joe Kennedy II and Rory Kennedy — said in an October statement that their brother’s candidacy is “dangerous to our country.”

 

They said he might have the same name as their father, but does not share the same “values, vision or judgement.”

 

Rory told CNN last month that her brother could take votes away from Biden and hand the election to Trump.

 

The presidential candidate has stirred controversy with remarks raising conspiracy theories surrounding vaccines and more recently on the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

 

Essential Reads 

Key election stories and other recent campaign coverage:

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) said Wednesday he thinks President Biden can win his state in this year’s upcoming presidential election. “I believe President Biden can win North Carolina,” Cooper said at Semafor’s World Economy Summit. “And the campaign obviously believes that because they are investing. And they are there.” Biden’s campaign has set its sights on flipping the Tar Heel State in the’ next presidential …

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has qualified as a 2024 presidential candidate in the battleground state of Michigan, his campaign announced Thursday. Kennedy is backed by the Natural Law Party in Michigan, which worked to collect signatures and file paperwork to support his independent White House bid.  “He’s the most qualified candidate in the modern-day history of America,” said Doug Dern, chair of the Natural Law Party, in a statement. “We …

The Trump campaign is asking GOP candidates and committees to share a portion of their fundraising haul from messages that use the former president’s name, image and likeness, a new move campaign officials say is designed to protect small-dollar donors from misleading messages. Trump campaign co-chairs Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles wrote to GOP vendors in an April 15 letter asking that candidates and committees using former …

The Countdown 

Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching:

88 days until the Republican National Convention
123 days until the Democratic National Convention 201 days until the 2024 general election

In Other News 

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

A new poll on Thursday found that only nine percent of young Americans think the United States is heading in the right direction, but more than half of young voters still indicate they would vote for President Biden. The survey, released Thursday from Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics, found that less than 10 percent of voters aged 18 to 29 said the country is generally headed in the right direction. Roughly …

Former President Trump’s New York hush money trial has quickly turned into a media spectacle, allowing Trump to garner attention as he effectively merges his campaign with his courtroom attendance. Trump aides have noted the “wall to wall” coverage of the former president’s remarks to reporters outside the courtroom Monday and Tuesday, sharing photos of nearly every major broadcast network airing his comments live as he railed …

Around the Nation 

Local and state headlines regarding campaigns and elections:

Rep. Eli Crane targeted by TV ads from group linked to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (The Arizona Republic
Clark County GOP chair arrested; DA’s office declines to pursue charge (Las Vegas Review-Journal

What We’re Reading 

Election news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Biden camp decides not to take the bait on Trump’s stormy trial (Politico
Trump takes aim at a remaining House Republican who voted to impeach him (The Washington Post
Why Biden and Democrats are talking so much about freedom (CNN)

Elsewhere Today 

Key stories on The Hill right now:

Jury selection is set to resume Thursday, the third day of former President Trump’s hush money trial in Manhattan. Five jurors have so far been picked, after two already-selected jurors were dismissed earlier Thursday. There are 13 juror selections more to go for a panel that will include six alternates, whittled down from hundreds of … Read more

In a town typically light on fashion and heavy on partisan friction, what one high-profile figure wore to a swanky White House affair has ignited a ferocious debate seemingly just as polarizing as politics in Washington. Lauren Sánchez, the TV host-turned-philanthropist and fiancee of Amazon founder and The Washington Post owner Jeff … Read more

What People Think 

Opinions related to campaigns and elections submitted to The Hill:

You’re all caught up. See you next time!