Trump edges ahead in race, but Kennedy Jr. could reshape the battlefield

Donald Trump holds a slight lead over Joe Biden six months before the US presidential elections. However, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. might erode the Republican candidate's support, according to the latest ABC News/Ipsos poll.

Excluding those who declared they will not participate in the presidential election, Trump has 46 percent support, while Biden has 44 percent. Among registered voters, Biden can rely on 46 percent of the votes, and Trump on 45 percent. Among likely voters - those most certain to participate - 49 percent expressed a desire to vote for Trump, and 45 percent for Biden.

In a detailed survey conducted in cooperation with Langer Research Associates, which considered five candidates, the results were as follows: Trump - 42 percent, Biden - 40 percent, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - 12 percent, Cornel West - 2 percent, Jill Stein - 1 percent.

According to ABC News, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a scion of the noted American political dynasty, could secure 12 percent of the vote, despite 77 percent of his supporters admitting they know "only a little" or "almost nothing" about his specific policy views.

Analysts highlight that more of Kennedy Jr.'s supporters identify as Republicans (54 percent) than Democrats (42 percent), and – when given a choice between just the two main candidates - they more often prefer Trump over Biden, giving the Republican candidate a 13 percentage point advantage. The recognition that Kennedy, the independent, was siphoning off his voters has increasingly led Trump to target him in his statements.

At 70, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the son of Robert F. Kennedy - the former US Attorney General assassinated in 1968 - and the nephew of the 35th President of the USA, John F. Kennedy.

An environmental activist who opposes COVID-19 vaccinations, he boldly enters the presidential race as an independent candidate.

Source: ABC News