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The independent Robert F. Kennedy wants to enter the race for the US presidency with Nicole Shanahan as his running mate
Photo: Laure Andrillon / REUTERS
The independent US presidential candidate and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, is bringing a woman to his side as his running mate in the election campaign. Kennedy introduced his vice presidential candidate: Nicole Shanahan, at an appearance in the US state of California.
The lawyer and entrepreneur was married to Google co-founder and billionaire Sergey Brin from 2018 to 2023. The 38-year-old, who grew up in humble circumstances as the daughter of a Chinese immigrant, is now set to contest the rest of the election campaign with Kennedy.
Formerly a democrat, now independent
The 70-year-old from the prominent political family was a Democrat himself for decades, but has increasingly distanced himself from the party in recent years and broke away from the Democrats completely in October 2023 when he announced his presidential candidacy as a non-party. The declared anti-vaxxer has been widely criticized by Democrats and other members of his family for spreading conspiracy myths and associating with extreme right-wing politicians.
At Shanahan's introduction, he acknowledged, among other things, her personal background, her expertise in tech topics, artificial intelligence and health and said: "My vice president is an avid surfer." Shanahan said she grew up on food stamps and later became rich. Now she wants to help others.
The duo has little chance in the race. In the USA, presidential candidates who are not tied to either party are considered hopeless. However, in the often close elections for the White House, they can deny the Democratic and Republican candidates decisive percentages. This could also be the case in the upcoming election - and, above all, harm the Democratic incumbent Joe Biden.
Biden wants to run for a second term in the November presidential election. Former President Donald Trump is in the race for the Republicans. In the internal party primaries, both have already secured the necessary number of delegates for the respective nomination party conferences in the summer, where they will be officially elected. Polls predict a neck-and-neck race between Biden and Trump. Biden will once again be running as a team with his previous deputy, Kamala Harris. Trump has not yet announced who he has chosen as his running mate.
lph/dpa