RFK Jr. Reveals He’s ‘Alienated’ Big-Money Democratic Donors

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. visits "The Faulkner Focus" at Fox News Channel Studios in New York City on June 2, 2023. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Democratic presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. said that he has raised a small amount in donations for his campaign so far because he’s “alienated every big-money donor.”

“We have raised less than $4 million for this campaign,” Kennedy Jr. said in a video released on Tuesday. He noted that despite that, he’s polling at around 20 percent among Democratic voters.

Kennedy, the son of former Attorney General and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, said that he’s spent a considerable time “not on fundraising, but on getting my message out to the people.” In the process of doing that, his campaign has “alienated every big-money donor in the Democratic Party and the Republican Party,” he stated.

“I’m not going to be getting any money from those guys,” he added, noting that he’s been mainly focused on social media and podcasts. “I need some money from you. We’re not spending your money on expensive consultants, or glossy TV commercials.”

While speaking to potential donors, Kennedy urged them to donate between June 27 and July 1, as that is when it will “count for us.”

Last week, his campaign drew more headlines when podcast host Joe Rogan called on vaccine scientist Peter Hotez to debate Kennedy to raise money for charity. Hotez declined, coming after he posted a Vice News article that was critical of a Rogan–Kennedy podcast episode in which Kennedy discussed his longstanding research and claims about childhood vaccines.

Weeks before that, Kennedy called on President Joe Biden to release declassified information about the assassination of his uncle, former President John F. Kennedy, while claiming that the CIA was likely involved. The U.S. intelligence agency has long denied any involvement in Kennedy’s 1963 death.

In April, Kennedy, known as RFK Jr., announced he is running for president as a Democrat, challenging Biden. The only other prominent Democrat running is self-help author Marianne Williamson.

For his part, Biden has not once mentioned Kennedy’s campaign. It’s also not clear if there will be any debates set for Biden, Kennedy, and Williamson.

Dismissed as a longshot candidate by many political pundits, Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr. carries the highest net favorability of all 2024 presidential candidates, according to a recent poll (pdf) from The Economist/YouGov. Kennedy was viewed favorably by 49 percent of the respondents, which translates to a net favorability rating of 19 points. He was seen as unfavorable by 30 percent. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, who is currently the frontrunner among Republican candidates, had 45 percent and 43 percent of the respondents view them in a favorable way. Biden’s net favorability rating was minus 7 while Trump had a minus 10 net favorability rating.

There has been speculation that Kennedy could win New Hampshire’s Democratic primary after the Democratic National Committee pushed to make the state second to South Carolina, contradicting what New Hampshire Democrats sought. Republican and Democrat leaders in the Granite State have vowed not to adhere to the new schedule change, giving Kennedy an opportunity.

“If Biden doesn’t compete in New Hampshire, he could lose out on valuable momentum and attention,” wrote Rep. Keith Ammon (R-N.H.) in spearheading a petition urging Democrats and Biden to reconsider. “Not campaigning in New Hampshire could make it more difficult for him to win the nomination.”