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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Hold Campaign Rally in Arizona

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to hold a campaign rally in Arizona next week, as the campaign season is expected to intensify after the new year.

The rally, scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 5:30 p.m., will take place at the Legends Event Center near 43rd Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. To secure tickets for the event, interested individuals can register here.

As a member of one of the most prominent families in Democratic politics, Kennedy’s long-shot primary bid has garnered better favorability ratings among Republicans than Democrats. Even President Trump has expressed his admiration for Kennedy, stating, “I like him a lot. I’ve known him for a long time.”

Both allies of Joe Biden and Donald Trump have raised concerns about Kennedy potentially being a spoiler for their respective candidates. Kennedy addressed these concerns during his campaign announcement, stating, “The truth is, they’re both right. My intention is to spoil it for both of them.” He made this statement to a roaring crowd at Philadelphia’s Independence Mall in October, emphasizing his desire to dissociate from both major political parties and make a “new declaration of independence” from corporations and the media.

During his remarks in Philadelphia, Kennedy highlighted the “rising tide of discontent” in the country and expressed his intention to unify disillusioned Democrats, Trump supporters seeking change, and political outsiders who feel their ideas do not align with any one party. His message resonated with hundreds of supporters who attended the event, holding signs that read “Declare your independence” and chanting “RFK, all the way!”

Peter Pantazis, a 40-year-old business owner from Lewes, Delaware, expressed his confidence in Kennedy’s campaign, stating, “He’s going to win… I’ve been praying that he’s going to decentralize the campaign, get away from the party system and actually be the candidate of the people for the people. And that’s what he announced today.”

Brent Snyder, a disabled veteran from south Philadelphia, shared his perspective, saying, “The last couple of years I’ve been noticing the Republican Party’s been going a way I didn’t like. Not that I agree with everything that’s happening to Trump, but I think right now he has more baggage than his country needs. The division right now is just terrible. We need someone to bring both sides together to make us work.”

As Kennedy spoke about the unwavering support of America’s founding fathers and warned against the dangers of partisan politics, a sense of joy, hope, and the faint smell of marijuana filled the air among the crowd. However, despite the enthusiasm surrounding Kennedy’s campaign, he faces significant challenges in competing against the well-funded and experienced campaigns of Trump and Biden. Notably, his campaign announcement was briefly delayed when he discovered his speech was loaded upside-down in the teleprompter.

Aware of the potential for Kennedy to draw votes away from Republicans, Trump allies have already started circulating opposition research to undermine his support among conservative voters. The Republican National Committee released a fact sheet titled “Radical DEMOCRAT RFK Jr.,” detailing instances in which Kennedy supported liberal politicians or endorsed conspiracy theories related to COVID-19 and past presidential elections. Similarly, Biden’s allies have dismissed Kennedy’s primary campaign as unserious.

Four of Kennedy’s eight surviving siblings released a joint statement expressing their disappointment with his candidacy and describing it as a danger to the country. They emphasized that while Bobby shares their father’s name, he does not share the same values, vision, or judgment. However, Tony Lyons, co-founder and co-chairman of American Values 2024, a super PAC supporting Kennedy, dismissed these comments as part of a strategy to discredit him, emphasizing that families are allowed to disagree.

Despite identifying as a Democrat and regularly invoking the legacies of his late father, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, on the campaign trail, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has developed close relationships with far-right figures in recent years. He has appeared on channels run by Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and headlined events organized by Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, as part of the ReAwaken America Tour, a Christian nationalist roadshow.

Opinion polls indicate that Kennedy enjoys more favorable opinions among Republicans than Democrats. His fringe views, including vocal skepticism of COVID-19 vaccines, have also garnered support from some far-right conservatives. Kennedy’s anti-vaccine organization, Children’s Health Defense, currently has a lawsuit pending against several news organizations, including The Associated Press, alleging violations of antitrust laws through actions taken to combat misinformation about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. Although Kennedy has temporarily stepped away from the group since announcing his presidential run, he remains listed as one of its attorneys in the lawsuit.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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