Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s bid for the presidency is facing obstacles from the Democratic National Committee (DNC), as they aim to stifle his campaign’s efforts to challenge President Joe Biden and secure the 2024 nomination with ease.
In a recent statement, former Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who is managing Kennedy’s campaign, expressed concerns about the DNC’s creation of a group of pledged delegates known as Party Leaders and Elected Officials (PLEOs). These PLEOs, according to Kucinich, wield a level of influence similar to super delegates, given the party’s substantial control over elected officials. This move, Kucinich argues, places the DNC in a contentious position, potentially negating the will of voters nationwide. It remains unclear how this action aligns with trusting the American people’s majority vote.
Kennedy’s campaign further criticized the DNC’s proposed reordering of state primaries. The plan seeks to penalize states that did not vote for Biden in the 2020 election, a move that, according to Kennedy’s team, could disenfranchise millions of Americans and limit access to mail-in voting.
These actions by the DNC appear to echo its behavior in the 2016 election, where it was accused of favoring Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders during the nomination process. Kennedy himself expressed concerns about the DNC’s recent considerations, such as potentially requiring candidates to fund their primaries. He argued that this move reflects the DNC’s belief that they already have a favored candidate in President Biden.
Under President Biden’s insistence, the DNC reshuffled the primary schedule for 2024, elevating South Carolina to the top spot. Furthermore, the DNC’s rules state that states not complying with the new schedule could lose half of their delegates at the national convention. President Biden even hinted that he might skip primaries held before South Carolina.
This new schedule could have significant ramifications, pushing Iowa’s caucuses, traditionally the opening event of the presidential election season, further down the line. New Hampshire and Nevada would follow on February 6th, with Georgia scheduled for February 13th. Notably, New Hampshire state law mandates that it hosts the first presidential primary. At the same time, Georgia requires Republican and Democratic primaries to be held on the same day, with the GOP’s primary set for March 12th.
In response to these challenges, Kucinich sent two letters to DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, requesting a meeting between Kennedy and Harrison to address voter rights and the protection of democratic processes. Kennedy’s campaign emphasizes its commitment to ensuring that every Democrat’s primary vote counts and that winning a primary equates to winning the delegates. They assert that the DNC’s current system allows for the manipulation of delegate allocation, potentially undermining the democratic process.
In summary, Kennedy’s campaign is critical of the DNC’s actions, labeling them as a “heads we win, tails you lose” approach. They argue that these moves could undermine the American people’s trust in the democratic system. Additionally, the campaign has expressed concerns about the DNC’s refusal to host debates between the Democrat candidates, including Kennedy and author Marianne Williamson, who have both declared their bids to challenge President Biden.
