Ex-Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard claimed she spurned a proposal to function impartial presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s operating mate.
Gabbard, 42, who left the Democrat Party in 2022 not lengthy after her unsuccessful presidential bid, didn’t elaborate on why she opted in opposition to taking the chance.
“I met with Kennedy a number of instances, and we now have turn out to be good associates,” Gabbard told ABC News.
“He requested if I might be his operating mate. After cautious consideration, I respectfully declined.”
Her title had been tossed round his veepstakes rumor mill for months as a possible contender, alongside former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers and others.
In the end, the Kennedy scion went with a largely unknown particular person — Silicon Valley lawyer Nicole Shanahan, 38, who had been a serious backer of his presidential bid.
Shanahan is the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, the Tenth-richest individual on the Bloomberg Billionaire Index. She bankrolled a controversial Tremendous Bowl advert for Kennedy earlier this 12 months.
Like Gabbard, Kennedy, 70, toyed with a long-shot bid for the Democratic nomination to be president. President Biden claimed that mantle in 2020 and is poised to take action once more in 2024.
Final October, Kennedy switched his celebration affiliation to impartial, voicing his disillusionment with the Democratic Get together, and aired grievances much like Gabbard’s.
A supply near the Kennedy marketing campaign confirmed to the outlet, “There have been undoubtedly conferences, but it surely didn’t work out.”
“We talked to a bunch of individuals,” that supply continued. “Tulsi’s a rock star it doesn’t matter what.”
The Submit contacted each Gabbard and the Kennedy marketing campaign for remark.
She has additionally been floated as a possible VP for former President Donald Trump and expressed an openness to becoming a member of that ticket.
Gabbard has an upcoming e-book, “For Love of Country: Leave the Democrat Party Behind,” which is about to hit bookshelves later this month.
The previous congresswoman from Hawaii blamed the “warmongers” within the Democratic Get together for her departure.
Kennedy’s efficiency within the polls has rattled allies of Trump and Biden alike.
In a three-way matchup, Trump scores 40.7% help, in comparison with Biden’s 35.3% and Kennedy’s 12.3%, in response to the most recent RealClearPolitics aggregate of polls.
Kennedy might want to prime 15% in choose polling to safe a spot on the talk stage later this fall. Ought to he obtain that, it could be a feat not completed because the Nineties.
