Former Rhode Island Rep. Patrick Kennedy issued an endorsement in the upcoming 2024 presidential election during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. But rather than put his weight behind his cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate, Kennedy endorsed President Joe Biden.
Hailing Biden as the “best president” the United States has had on the issue of mental health, Kennedy said, “He’s helping take it to the insurance companies by enforcing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which I was honored to author along with my late father when we were in Congress.”
“And, frankly he’s also put the most money to community mental health around the country. So, there is no other choice than Joe Biden, if you care about this addiction crisis and this mental health crisis, Joe Biden is your candidate,” Kennedy continued.
Former Rhode Island congressman Patrick Kennedy endorsed President Biden over his cousin Robert Kennedy Jr., who is running for president as an independent candidate.
"There is no other choice than Joe Biden," he said.https://t.co/rK8JtfYBpk
— Axios (@axios) May 26, 2024
When CNN host Dana Bash noted that Kennedy’s remarks sounded like an endorsement of Biden, he said after laughing, “Of course it is. He’s the best and he knows this issue, as you know. It’s personally affected him and I think that every American can relate to what it’s like for Joe Biden because we’ve all had similar circumstances.”
Bash asked him if he was concerned that Kennedy Jr. would be a “spoiler” for Biden in the election, as Biden and Democrats fear he would be. In response, Kennedy said that it is former President Donald Trump he is concerned about.
According to him, he is worried that Trump “will be elected” in the battle that is majorly between him and Biden.
Kennedy’s decision to abandon his cousin and endorse Biden is not shocking, given that several members of the Kennedy family have endorsed Biden, including Kennedy Jr.’s sister, Kerry Kennedy.
Kerry announced in April alongside 14 members of the Kennedy family that she would be backing the incumbent in the election, telling the audience at an event in Pennsylvania that “the best way forward for America is to reelect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to four more years.”
“Donald Trump is running to take us backwards, attacking the most basic rights and freedoms that are core to who we are as Americans. He has said he will be a dictator on day one, even saying he wants to try to suspend the Constitution,” Kerry stated as she announced the family’s support.
“I can only imagine how Donald Trump’s outrageous lies and behavior would have horrified my father, Robert F. Kennedy, who proudly served as Attorney General of the United States, and honored his pledge to uphold the law and protect the country,” she added.
She also threw a subtle attack her brother’s way when she said that “there are only two candidates with any chance of winning the presidency” for the 2024 election.
