Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., also known as RFK, could be a significant factor in next year’s election, according to a recent poll. The independent candidate received significant support in a match-up against President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
The new Quinnipiac University poll found that if Kennedy is included, he receives significant support. In this scenario, Biden receives 39% of the vote while Trump pulls in 36%. Kennedy is in this place with 22%.
The same poll found that without Kennedy in the race, it would be much tighter. In a two-way scenario, Biden received 47% support while Trump tallied 46%.
Kennedy received particularly high support among independent voters, 36% of whom said that they would vote for him. This was higher than Trump’s 31% share and Biden’s 30%.
RFK announced an independent bid for president last month after seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination against Biden.
Kennedy called for a “new Declaration of Independence,” arguing that the people of the country could be independent from the two major political parties, large corporations and a “mercenary media.”
Despite the high showing in the Quinnipiac poll, the results are not consistent. According to a recent Susquehanna poll, the candidate receives significantly less support.
🇺🇲 NATIONAL POLL: Susquehanna (B+)
(D) Biden 47% (+7)
(R) Trump 40%
(I) RFK Jr. 6%"RFK Jr. is syphoning 6% of the GOP vote from Trump – clear evidence Kennedy is hurting Trump more than Biden"
—
Gen. Ballot:
Democrats 47% (+3)
Republicans 44%n=1,000 | 10/17-27 | ±3.2% pic.twitter.com/U7XhttJO8P
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) November 1, 2023
In that poll, RFK received 6% in an election against the president and former president. In this scenario, Biden received 47% and Trump received 40%.
In addition, 7% of those polled said that they would either vote for another candidate or were not sure.
The same poll also found that Trump had exceptional support in the Republican primary about two months before the Iowa caucuses.
Trump received 64% of Republican primary voters, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) registered 15%. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) received 8% while no other candidate received 5% or more.
Biden receives a majority of Democratic voters, with author and 2020 candidate Marianne Williamson bringing in 8%, while newly-announced candidate Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) receives 6%. Biden polled at 77%.
