Triumphantly invested by their respective parties, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump begin the final race towards the American presidential election on November 5, which has once again become a duel in the strict sense with the suspension of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign on Friday.
• Also read: Democratic Party Convention: No Taylor or Beyoncé, but a lineup of five-star artists offer their support to Kamala Harris
• Also read: Harris and Trump now engaged in the final sprint
The independent candidate, a widely regarded eccentric heir to the celebrated Democratic political dynasty, vigorously criticized the Democratic Party in a speech, citing three causes, including freedom of expression and the war in Ukraine, for its decision to “run as an independent and now to support President Trump.”
“I’m simply suspending my campaign,” said the nephew of the famous assassinated president John F. Kennedy, in a speech in Phoenix, capital of the key state of Arizona (southwest). He acknowledged that he “no longer sees a real path to the White House.”
Mr. Kennedy, commonly referred to by his initials RFK, said his name would remain on the ballot in most states. “But in about a dozen contested states where my presence could skew the outcome, I will withdraw my name and I have already started the process,” he said.
According to polls, the impact of the support of the independent candidate, credited so far with 4 to 5% of voting intentions, on the campaign of the former Republican president remains uncertain.
“We just received a very appreciable endorsement from RFK Jr,” said Donald Trump, who was at the same time in the key neighboring state of Nevada, in Las Vegas, to promise tax cuts, hailing “a great guy, respected by everyone.”
AFP
He then traveled to Arizona himself for a campaign rally with a “surprise guest” who may well have been RFK.
“We are going to win,” Kamala Harris, vice-president of outgoing Joe Biden, told reporters accompanying her.
She did not respond to questions about RFK’s support for her opponent, but her campaign addressed the independent candidate’s potential voters in a statement.
“To all Americans who are tired of Donald Trump and looking for a new path, our campaign is for you,” his campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon wrote to them.
Cascade of surprises
Because if Kamala Harris left the Democratic convention in Chicago (north) on Thursday evening with a slight lead in most polls over Donald Trump, everything remains to be done, especially in the seven swing statesthe most undecided states, where large sections of the electorate appear to be behind his rival.
The vice president accepted the nomination of excited Democratic delegates on Thursday, at the end of a euphoric convention marked among other things by Michelle Obama’s hard-hitting speech, the energy of running mate Tim Walz, and a festive musical program.
She promised the United States a “new path” of unity.
Donald Trump, who bombarded his Truth Social network with angry messages during his speech, accused her of contributing to the “decline” of the United States as vice president.
The duelists will be able to pit their two visions against each other on September 10 in Pennsylvania (northeast) during their first debate, the next highlight of the campaign.
Who knows how many more upheavals this crazy campaign has in store, after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump on July 13 and Joe Biden’s shock withdrawal on July 21?
Encouraging news for Kamala Harris came on the economic front on Friday: Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell opened the door to a first rate cut by the institution, as early as September, which should lead to a reduction in the cost of borrowing for American businesses and households.
On the other hand, the “Abandon Biden” campaign, which campaigned for the defeat of the Democratic candidate because of his unconditional support for Israel in its operation in Gaza, warned that it was continuing its mobilization against Kamala Harris in order to sanction an administration “complicit in genocide”, according to it.
These divisions could cost him precious votes in certain key states, particularly in Michigan (north), which has a large Arab-Muslim community sensitive to the fate of the Palestinians.
