CNN —Environmental lawyer and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Monday his independent candidacy for president, officially ending his effort to defeat President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary in favor of a long-shot general election bid. Kennedy’s campaign as an independent could further complicate a general election race that’s already expected to be closely contested. A Reuters/Ipsos poll of a hypothetical three-way race between Biden, Trump and Kennedy conducted last week among likely voters found 14% of voters supported Kennedy, with 40% supporting Trump and 38% supporting Biden. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country, ” Rory Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Joseph P Kennedy II and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend said in a statement. He said he supported Trump in 2016 and 2020, but said he plans to support Kennedy in 2024.

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Persons: Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Joe Biden, “, ” Kennedy, Kennedy, Biden, Donald Trump, Ross Perot, Bill Clinton, that’s, ” Trump, Steven Cheung, “ …, ”, John F, Bobby, ” Rory Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Joseph P Kennedy, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Walter Rodriguez, he’s, ” Rodriguez, ” Karl Hagstrom, Trump, ” Hagstrom, Sarah Shulman, Shulman, ” Shulman Organizations: CNN, Environmental, Democratic, Libertarian Party, Independent, Reuters, Biden, Trump, “, RFK, University of New, Republican National, Children’s Health Defense, Republican, Democrat Locations: United States, Philadelphia, Texas , Florida, Georgia, Texas, China, New Hampshire, South Carolina, University of New Hampshire, New Jersey, Westchester County , New York, Boston