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Stakes Rising in 2024 Veepstakes
Third-party hopeful Robert F. Kennedy’s selected running mate is young, progressive, and terrifying the Democratic Party.
“RFK Jr. Names Nicole Shanahan as Running Mate for Presidential Bid,” Eliza Collins reported for the Wall Street Journal on March 26, 2024, noting that the “Bay Area lawyer and political novice was previously married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin.”
“Shanahan, Kennedy said, matched the list of attributes he was looking for in a running mate as someone who has worked to increase access to healthy, pesticide-free food, has an understanding of tech and AI, and is athletic,” Collins revealed of the pick. “He also praised their shared skepticism of government agencies and support for more aggressive border security and legal immigration.”
The unveiling of Nicole Shanahan was not met with delight from Democratic Party leadership. Party leaders were undoubtedly hoping Kennedy would choose someone with greater appeal to persuadable Republicans than disenchanted Democrats.
“Democrats have been far more nervous about Kennedy’s candidacy than Republicans, though both sides were quick to criticize the announcement,” as Collins reported for the WSJ. “The Democratic National Committee held a press call Tuesday with elected Democratic officials, including from battleground states, who accused Kennedy of…