By JONATHAN J. COOPER (Associated Press)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is in discussions with potential vice presidential candidates as he nears the announcement of his running mate for his independent presidential campaign.
Kennedy mentioned to The New York Times that NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers and former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura are his top choices. Stefanie Spear, a campaign spokesperson, verified the Times report and mentioned that there are other names being considered as well.
Kennedy, a member of a prominent political family, has been focusing on gaining access to the ballot, which is a costly and time-consuming process. He has emphasized the need to gather over a million signatures in a state-by-state effort.
Many states require independent candidates to select a running mate before they can apply for ballot access. This is driving the early push for Kennedy to make a choice. Candidates from major parties typically do not name vice presidential nominees until closer to their summer conventions.
Kennedy is a lawyer and environmental activist who has emerged as a prominent figure in the movement that disputes the scientific agreement on vaccines and openly criticizes the public health establishment.
After initially running as a Democrat, he shifted his focus to an independent campaign last year, causing concern among supporters of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, who fear that he may attract backers who would otherwise support a major party candidate.
Rodgers, the longtime Green Bay Packers quarterback now with the New York Jets, shares Kennedy’s skepticism of vaccine mandates and, like Kennedy, frequently appears on anti-establishment podcasts. Ventura, a former professional wrestler, surprised observers when he won the Minnesota governor race as an independent candidate in 1998.
