Unclear whether Kennedy campaign will have same impact as Perot and Nader

We’re now 170 days away from the Presidential election rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

Several factors will determine which one of them will call 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue home the next four years. The biggest key will be turnout among party loyalists.

A new poll this week from the New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer and Siena College shows Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with anywhere from 9-12 percent support in six potentially swing states.

The New York times points out those are the best numbers for a third-party candidate in decades.

Conventional wisdom suggests this hurts Joe Biden. How worried should the Biden campaign and the Democrats be about this?

Host Jim Niedelman returns to discuss that and more with former Iowa State Representative Elesha Gayman and Iowa Republican Party Chair Jeff Kaufmann.

“I think it’s something to definitely keep an eye on, but I don’t think your tried-and-true Democrats are going to be losing much sleep over it,” Gayman said.

“I think Joe Biden is worried about that,” Kaufmann said, adding “For crying out loud, we’re not putting a Kennedy on a debate stage?”

To hear more from our panelists, click on the video.

Question of the Week

And now we want to hear from you, too, with our question of the week: How do you think Robert Kennedy Jr.’s third-party campaign will impact the Presidential race? Please share your thoughts at 4therecord@whbf.com

Local 4 News, your local election headquarters, is proud to present 4 The Record, a weekly news and public affairs program focused on the issues important to you.  It’s a program unlike any other here in the Quad Cities. Tune in each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as Jim Niedelman brings you up to speed on what’s happening in the political arena, from Springfield, Des Moines, Washington, D.C. and right here at home.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.