Gage Skidmore CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED, via Flickr, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

Democrats are leaving no room for doubt about their stance on former party colleague turned independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his newly chosen vice presidential candidate. 

They assert that the duo poses a threat to voters and represents a “spoiler” ticket, potentially diverting votes from President Joe Biden and facilitating the return of former President Donald Trump to the White House, ABC News reports.

During a Democratic National Committee (DNC) press call on Tuesday night, numerous party representatives labeled Kennedy's presidential bid as “disgusting” and accused it of being a tactic to secure Trump's reelection.

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis emphasized the risk posed by Kennedy, stating, “All he can do is take away votes from President Biden and make it easier for Donald Trump to win. And we simply can't afford to let that happen.”

Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow echoed these sentiments, condemning the Kennedy ticket as “disgusting and an abuse of our democracy.”

McMorrow pointed out that Kennedy's selection of affluent lawyer Nicole Shanahan as his running mate, who has the financial means to fund ballot access in multiple states, exacerbates the threat to Biden's presidency and increases the likelihood of Trump's return to power.

Kennedy is currently engaged in the arduous and costly process of gaining access to each state's ballot, which involves mobilizing volunteers to collect thousands of signatures. Initial speculation surrounding Kennedy's consideration of Shanahan as his running mate suggested that he aimed to leverage her financial resources to cover the substantial costs associated with ballot access in various states.

Shanahan, a significant donor to a pro-Kennedy Super PAC, played a key role in financing an ad aired during this year's Super Bowl, which drew criticism from members of Kennedy's family for its resemblance to a campaign ad featuring John F. Kennedy Jr.

Prominent Democrats highlighted praise for Kennedy's ticket from Republican hard-liners as further cause for concern, with Trump himself endorsing Kennedy's candidacy as “great for MAGA.”

In response, the DNC has intensified its messaging efforts, assembling a team, including seasoned strategist Lis Smith, to counteract third-party and independent challengers, particularly targeting Kennedy and Shanahan. This proactive approach marks a departure from previous election cycles, where concerns about third-party challengers received less public attention.

Matt Corridoni, former deputy to Lis Smith, has been appointed as the spokesperson for the DNC's initiative to combat third-party and independent challengers. He emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “With so much on the line, we're not taking anything for granted. We're going to make sure voters are educated, and we're going to make sure all candidates are playing by the rules.”