Robert Kennedy Jr. names Dennis Kucinich as 2024 campaign manager
“Lord. Kennedy has the ability to reach out to all of America in a way I don’t think anyone else can,” Kucinich said, arguing that the scion of America’s most famous political family would be a stronger candidate for the general election than Biden if it were the former President Donald Trump would be the GOP nominee.
Kennedy has garnered praise from far-right figures, including support from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, but Kucinich said that was merely evidence of his broad populist appeal and not a darker form of support for the candidate or his collusion with conservatives that weaken Biden want. as some Democrats have claimed.
“His decision to choose me as his campaign manager should put all those questions to rest,” Kucinich said.
Kucinich, 76, and Kennedy, 69, share similar worldviews, particularly when it comes to foreign policy — both question US support for Ukraine in its war against Russia and tend to blame American hegemony as the root of many of the world’s ills regard.
The campaign’s strategy, fundraising expectations, staffing plans and office location are still being determined, Kucinich said. When asked about party insiders who said Kennedy would have a hard time recruiting experienced personnel to work on his campaign, Kucinich replied, “Tell those Democratic officials to call me.”
Kucinich was outraged when asked about Kennedy’s anti-vaccination activism and why it was relevant. He reiterated Kennedy’s position that he was not anti-vaccination and indicated that the issue would not be a central part of the campaign.
“He has been an environmental advocate for 40 years and has raised questions about the safety of some [vaccines]. He’s not opposed to vaccination,” said Kucinich.
Kucinich was elected Mayor of Cleveland in 1977 at the age of 31, earning him the nickname “Boy Mayor” and presiding over one of the most turbulent times in the city’s history. Cleveland defaulted on his oversight after refusing to sell the city electric company. Kucinich narrowly survived a recall campaign and was defeated in his 1979 re-election campaign.
He fought his way from the bottom up, winning a city council seat in the 1980s and then moving into the state legislature before securing a seat in Congress. Meanwhile, Kucinich’s decision to stick with the electric company has aged well. attract praise by those who recognized it as a city asset. But his political instincts showed less success later in his career.
Aside from his long-term bids for the White House, Kucinich lost his House seat after another Democratic nominee, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, defeated him in a 2012 primary following a district reshuffle. After that defeat, Kucinich began courting conservative media and others on the political right, and landed employment as a commentator at Fox News. He also raised his eyebrows when he praised Trump’s inaugural speech in 2017.
Kucinich’s later comeback attempts proved unsuccessful. He lost a Democratic primary for Ohio governor in 2018. And an attempt to return as Cleveland mayor fell through in 2021 when Kucinich failed to emerge from a nonpartisan primary. Among the headlines of this race was Kucinichs initial rejection to disclose whether he has been vaccinated against Covid. He later published a letter by his doctor, who cited a “chronic medical condition” that “requires careful consideration of possible therapeutic intervention” and did not include vaccination among the precautions Kucinich was taking to prevent contracting the coronavirus.
