(New York) Andi Novick is not afraid of Robert Kennedy Jr, independent candidate for the presidency of the United States and black sheep of a political dynasty that does not want to die.
In fact, it is rather Joe Biden who alarms this long-time Democrat who no longer recognizes herself in the party of 46e president.
“What concerns me most about the Biden administration is the questioning of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights,” says this retired lawyer who now manages an educational microfarm in Rhinebeck, in the Valley of the Hudson, some 100 miles north of Manhattan.
“I want to talk about censorship, the takeover of social networks in order to put pressure on them not to publish the words of certain people, the total disregard for the First Amendment of the Constitution, which is, according to me, the cornerstone of all our rights,” she adds, endorsing the grievances expressed by RFK Jr, whose Instagram account was suspended from 2021 to 2023 for having disseminated numerous statements deemed false about COVID-19 or vaccines.
In his bucolic corner of New York, Andi Novick will play a key role in the campaign of the nephew of President John Kennedy and son of Senator Robert Kennedy, both assassinated.
There she organizes the collection of signatures necessary to guarantee the 70-year-old candidate a place on the ballot which will be given to voters in New York State in November. Similar efforts are underway across the United States, including in key states.
Split the vote?
Is Andi Novick worried that these efforts could contribute to the election of Donald Trump by depriving Joe Biden of the support of Democrats like her?
“The fact that my vote could lead to the election of Trump is of no importance,” replies the New Yorker, who sees in RFK Jr a worthy representative of the “Democratic Party of [sa] youth”, a party “which represents the working and middle classes, which opposes wars and which questions authority”.
“I don’t want Trump to be elected. I don’t want Biden to be elected. I want Kennedy to be elected,” she adds, saying she believes in his chances and ignoring her support for Israel’s war against Hamas.
This is why Joe Biden’s advisers are afraid of Robert Kennedy Jr. His supporters do not all share Andi Novick’s profile, but there could be enough of them in key states to harm the outgoing president.
“Whenever there is an independent candidate, it always seems to affect the incumbent candidate more than anyone else,” analyzes Thomas Whalen, professor of social sciences at Boston University and author of books on Kennedy.
In this case, the Kennedy name or brand is closely associated with the Democratic Party, especially for older voters. Even if Kennedy gets just a handful of votes in a tight state like Pennsylvania, it could cost Biden the election.
Thomas Whalen, professor of social sciences at Boston University
“And if independents think what Robert Kennedy is selling is reasonable, that will exacerbate Joe Biden’s problem. »
Hence the efforts made by the president’s allies to accentuate what seems unreasonable to them in RFK Jr, who became a leading figure in the anti-vaccine movement after becoming known as an environmental lawyer.
“This guy never met a conspiracy theory he didn’t like.” He thinks WiFi gives cancer, that chemicals in water and fish make kids gay and transgender,” Democratic strategist Lis Smith recently told the podcast Pod Save America.
Some Republican voters are also drawn to Robert Kennedy Jr, according to polls. But it scares the Trump camp much less than the opposing camp. The proof: Republican billionaire Tim Mellon, the largest donor to the pro-Trump Make America Great Again Super PAC, is also the largest donor to the pro-Kennedy American Values 2024 Super PAC.
As for Donald Trump, he welcomed RFK Jr’s candidacy after the latter introduced his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, Silicon Valley lawyer and ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin.
“It’s Joe Biden’s political opponent the corrupt one, not mine. I’m glad he showed up! “, launched the ex-president on Truth Social, describing Robert Kennedy Jr as the “most radically left-wing candidate in the race”.
But Robert Kennedy Jr’s so-called left-wing ideas make headlines less often than the conspiracy theories he is associated with, much to the chagrin of Andi Novick.
“I think the term ‘conspiracy theory’ was created to silence people who question the government’s narrative,” she says. The term “conspiracy theory” was barely used until the CIA issued a memo in 1967 stating that anyone challenging the official version of President Kennedy’s assassination had to be labeled a conspiracy theorist in order to make it silence and slander her. I think the term “conspiracy theory” is used like the word “communist” was used during the McCarthy era. »
What does she think of RFK Jr’s views on vaccines?
“I completely share his concern. Vaccines should be safe and effective and, in fact, their safety and effectiveness are never tested. »
This opinion, denied by public health specialists, explains why they are also among those who fear Robert Kennedy Jr.