Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced he was suspending, but not ending, his campaign for the 2024 presidential election, heavily criticizing the Democratic Party and media outlets.
Kennedy's Announcement
Speaking in a live-streamed event from Phoenix on August 23, Kennedy stated that he was not ending his campaign but simply suspending it. He called on his supporters to vote for him in November, suggesting that there was still a path to victory if Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump tied with 269 electoral college votes.
Reasons for Suspension
Kennedy mentioned that his name would remain on the ballot in most states, but he intended to remove himself from ten key states to avoid being a “spoiler” for either Harris or Trump. “In an honest system, I believe I would have won the election,” said Kennedy. “In my heart, I no longer believe that I have a realistic path to electoral victory in the face of this relentless, systematic censorship and media control.”
Reactions and Future
Many had expected Kennedy to publicly announce that he was ending his campaign after he filed a statement of withdrawal with the Arizona Secretary of State on August 22. After launching his campaign initially as a Democrat in 2023, Kennedy made digital assets and blockchain technology a focal point of his platform. In addition to supporting cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, he argued against the introduction of a central bank digital currency and suggested placing the national budget on the blockchain.
This is a developing story, and further information will be added as it becomes available.
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