More than 15 members of the Kennedy family endorsed the president at a campaign event in Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA—President Joe Biden on April 18 traveled to Philadelphia, the final stop of his three-day tour of Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state, where he received the Kennedy family’s endorsement for his reelection campaign.
More than 15 members of the Kennedy family, who had previously criticized Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent bid for the White House, endorsed President Biden at a campaign event in Philadelphia.
Speaking at the event, Kerry Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy’s seventh child, praised the president, stating that reelecting him is the best way forward for the country.
“President Biden has been a champion for all the rights and freedoms that my father and uncle stood for. That’s why nearly every single grandchild of Joe and Rose Kennedy supports Joe Biden,” she said.
“In 2024, there are only two candidates with any chance of winning the presidency.”
Speaking at the event, President Biden thanked the Kennedys for the endorsement.
Six of Mr. Kennedy’s siblings stood alongside the president on stage at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center in Philadelphia.
“I don’t want to become emotional. What an incredible honor to have the support of the Kennedy family,“ President Biden said. ”Most meaningful introduction I’ve ever gotten in my life.”
Mr. Kennedy entered the presidential race in April 2023, challenging President Biden for the Democratic Party nomination.
After encountering multiple hurdles by the DNC and accusing the organization of “rigging the primary” and not allowing any candidate to compete against President Biden, Mr. Kennedy announced he would run as an independent in October 2023.
Many have said that Mr. Kennedy’s third-party challenge threatens President Biden more than former President Donald Trump does.
In the RealClearPolitics average of polls as of April 17, President Trump leads with 41 percent, followed by President Biden (35.7 percent), and Mr. Kennedy (11.7 percent).
Multiple times on the campaign trail, Mr. Kennedy has pointed out that he has more than 100 family members and said that many of them are working on his campaign.
By Emel Akan and Jeff Louderback
