A vote for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a vote for — GOP presumptive candidate former president Donald Trump.
At least that’s according to Rita Palma, the Kennedy campaign’s state director in New York, CNN reported. She has been urging Republican voters to support Kennedy, citing that if Kennedy is on the ballot, Trump has a better chance of beating President Joe Biden in the Democratic state.
She said getting rid of Biden is her “No. 1 priority” so Trump would have an easier road back to the White House.
“The only way that Trump can even, remote possibility of taking New York is if Bobby is on the ballot. If it’s Trump vs. Biden, Biden wins. Biden wins six days, seven days a week. With Bobby in the mix, anything can happen,” Palma said in a video of the meeting with Republicans in New York.
“The only way for him, for Bobby, to shake it up and to get rid of Biden is if he’s on the ballot in every state, including New York,” she said.
Despite what Palma said at this meeting, Amaryllis Fox, RFK’s campaign manager, told ABC Palma was speaking as a private citizen.
“She definitely does not speak on behalf of the campaign,” Fox said.
Palma told Fox this was a “health freedom event” she had attended before.
The Biden campaign has said that Kennedy’s campaign is a spoiler that will benefit Trump in November.
Palma confirmed to CNN the legitimacy of the video. CNN has reached out to the Kennedy campaign and American Values 2024, the super PAC backing his campaign, for comment.
In the video on YouTube, which has been removed, Palma said there are some things Republicans can do “to block Biden from winning the presidency.”
Some actions were “Collect signatures for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,” “Go to Pennsylvania to help Trump,” and “Vote RFK Jr. for President!!”
Palma said voters need to vote for Kennedy. This would their increase the likelihood of no candidate receiving a majority of Electoral College votes. At that point, state delegations in Congress would vote to determine the outcome of the election, per the outlet.
“So my thoughts are, Bobby’s moving the blues on his own. If the Republicans face, well, I guess accepted the fact that New York, Maryland, Illinois, California, New Jersey, Connecticut, most of the northeast is going to go blue, why wouldn’t we put our vote to Bobby and at least get rid of Biden and get those 28 electoral votes in New York … give those 28 electoral votes to Bobby rather than to Biden, thereby reducing Biden’s 270,” Palma said.
“Who are they going to pick? If it’s a Republican Congress, they’ll pick Trump. So we’re rid of Biden either way,” she added.
Palma also shared similar messages on her social media accounts, encouraging Republicans in New York and other traditionally Democratic states to “make your red vote count” by supporting Kennedy.
“Just a friendly reminder, NY, Cali, Illinois, CT, NJ, MD … let’s take those votes from Biden so Joe’s a loser,” she said in a social media post that has since been deleted.
A road trip to the swing state of Pennsylvania may help, too.
“If you want to help Trump, go to Pennsylvania and knock on doors. I did that in ’16 and ’20,” she said.
Democratic National Committee spokesman Matt Corridoni said the comments indicate that “RFK Jr.’s campaign is saying the quiet part out loud.”
“As the saying goes, when people show you who they are, believe them: RFK Jr.’s campaign isn’t building a plan or a strategy to get 270 electoral votes, they’re building one to help Trump return to the Oval Office,” Corridoni told CNN.
