Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Shocks Political Scene: Suspends Campaign and Backs Trump!

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Friday that he is suspending his independent campaign for president and has chosen to endorse former president Donald Trump.

While making this announcement, Kennedy mentioned that he will remain on the ballot in most states but will withdraw his name in swing states. Although he did not specify which states, it has been confirmed that he has withdrawn from the Texas ballot. Additionally, he also pulled out from the Arizona ballot on Thursday.

Recent polling indicates that Vice President Kamala Harris is within striking distance of winning Texas, showing a stronger performance than President Joe Biden did during his re-election campaign. In a recent poll, Kennedy had approximately 2% support from likely Texas voters, down from a previous high of 8%.

Just two weeks ago, the Texas Secretary of State's office accepted Kennedy's petition to appear on the state ballot. According to the state election code, candidates can withdraw from the general election until the 74th day before election day.

As the race heats up between Harris and Trump, Kennedy’s endorsement could potentially benefit Trump in swing states. However, Josh Blank from the Texas Politics Project suggested that in Texas, this endorsement might not have a significant impact.

Kennedy has experienced a decline in favorability among Texas voters due to negative press surrounding his past. Interestingly, Texas Republicans view him more favorably than Democrats. Blank noted that Kennedy's support has been eroding and it's uncertain how much influence his endorsement will have.

Disclosure: The Texas Secretary of State has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit news organization that is funded in part by donations.