CNN
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President Joe Biden received formal endorsements Thursday from more than a dozen members of the Kennedy extended family. The aim was to capitalize on the legacy of storied Democratic families while implicitly underscoring the near-universal rejection of third-party challenges raised by one of them.Myself, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The broader Kennedy family has shunned RFK Jr.’s campaign as “dangerous,” despite the candidate’s own attempts to capitalize on his last name and family history.
But Thursday’s event in Philadelphia, the same city where RFK Jr. announced his solo bid for president in October, nevertheless It highlights the threat Kennedy poses to Biden, who is seeking re-election in a contested election campaign. May serve as a spoiler.
In a speech introducing Biden, Kerry Kennedy, one of RFK Jr.’s sisters who has led the family’s organizing efforts, said the president “defended all the rights and freedoms that our fathers and uncles defended.” He also warned that: The threat to democracy and freedom posed by Donald Trump.
“Donald Trump is trying to set us back, attacking the most fundamental rights and freedoms that are at the heart of who we are as Americans,” she said. “From day one he said he was going to be a dictator and even said he wanted to suspend the constitution.”
“I can only imagine how Donald Trump’s outrageous lies and actions shocked my father, Robert F. Kennedy, who proudly served as Attorney General of the United States and kept his promise to uphold the law and protect our country.” Kennedy added. .
Biden’s re-election campaign “should unite all Americans, not just Democrats, but Republicans and independents,” he said.
Although most of her remarks focused on Trump, she took the opportunity to mention her brother’s campaign.
“In 2024, there are only two candidates who can win the presidency,” she said.
Biden, who spoke after Kerry Kennedy, was visibly moved by her remarks, looking up at the sky and saying, “Mom and dad, I hope you will listen.”
“Kelly,” the President said, “that was the most meaningful introduction I’ve ever received in my life.”
Mr. Biden said the work of Robert F. Kennedy Sr. served as a guidepost for his political career. Immediately after graduating law school, Mr. Biden got a job at a prestigious law firm in Delaware, but ultimately decided to become a public defender.
“I did it primarily because I thought your father would do it,” he told the Kennedys.
Ahead of Biden’s speech, Robert Kennedy said in a social media post Thursday that his family’s political disagreements will “restore civility and respect for public debate” for Americans. He said he hopes to be a role model, adding that his family believes in “unity in our society.” love for each other. ”
“I hear that some of my family members are supporting President Biden today. I’m glad they’re politically active. It’s a family tradition. We have different opinions, but we have each other. I think this is possible in America too. Can we disagree without hating the other person? We have civility and respect for public debate. Can we get it back? I think we can,” Kennedy wrote.
He also noted that some members of his family work for his campaign. His campaign manager is his daughter-in-law, Amaryllis Fox Kennedy.
After the speech, the Kennedys will join Mr. Biden in a grassroots organizing event with campaign volunteers and local supporters, where Mr. Biden will be introduced by Joe Kennedy III. The family then plans to make campaign calls and knock on doors.
This is not the first time Biden has sought to highlight his ties to the Kennedy family. He cites Robert F. Kennedy Sr. as a personal inspiration in his political career. Busts of former attorneys general and senators are placed in the Oval Office.
He appointed three family members to diplomatic positions within his administration. He appointed Caroline Kennedy as Ambassador to Australia; Victoria Reggie Kennedy, widow of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, has been appointed ambassador to Austria. Joe Kennedy III becomes special envoy to Northern Ireland.
On St. Patrick’s Day this year, the extended family was invited to a White House reception and posed for photos with Biden in the Rose Garden. And Biden invited Maria Shriver, the niece of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, to the State of the Union address to highlight her work on women’s health.
Some members of the Kennedy family have already made it clear in November that they support Biden in public statements. Many people are trying to distance themselves from RFK Jr.’s presidential bid.
In an interview with CNN last month, Rory Kennedy, another sister of RFK Jr., said she was concerned that Biden could hurt his chances of defeating Trump.
“I feel very strongly that this is the most important election of our lifetimes and there’s so much at stake. And I think it’s going to be decided by a small number of votes in a small number of states, and I think that Bobby “I’m worried that just taking a few percentage points away from Biden could change the election and lead to Trump winning,” she said.
RFK Jr. tries to downplay the obvious family feud.
“I have a large family, about 105 cousins at last count,” he told CNN’s Erin Burnett earlier this month. “We have a big family. I don’t know anyone in America whose family agrees with him on everything.”
Members of the Kennedy family who attended Thursday’s Biden event included Rory Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Joe Kennedy II, Beth Kennedy, Joe Kennedy III, Christopher Kennedy, Maxwell Taylor Kennedy, and Vicki Kennedy. – Included Strauss Kennedy, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Kerry Kennedy Meltzer, Max Meltzer, and Ted. Kennedy Jr., Stephen Kennedy Smith, Peter McKelvey, Rebecca McKelvey.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Michael Williams said: Aaron Pellish and Eva McKend contributed to this report.
