With about fifty days remaining until the U.S. Presidential elections, both the Republican candidate Donald Trump and the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris are forming some interesting, albeit risky, alliances to win over the "undecided" voters. Some "Centrist Republicans," who are unhappy with Trump’s takeover and transformation of the Republican Party, are now considering supporting Kamala Harris. This group, which campaigned against Trump under the "NeverTrump" label during the 2020 elections
With about fifty days remaining until the U.S. Presidential elections, both the Republican candidate Donald Trump and the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris are forming some interesting, albeit risky, alliances to win over the "undecided" voters.
Some "Centrist Republicans," who are unhappy with Trump’s takeover and transformation of the Republican Party, are now considering supporting Kamala Harris. This group, which campaigned against Trump under the "NeverTrump" label during the 2020 elections by endorsing Biden, is now throwing its weight behind Harris. Hundreds of individuals who served under previous Republican administrations are urging fellow Republicans to vote for Harris.
Trump, on the other hand, is making moves to win over centrist liberal voters who are dissatisfied with the "Progressive-Left" faction of the Democratic Party. Softening his stance on the abortion ban is just one such maneuver. Meanwhile, former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has decided to back Trump. Gabbard, who ran as a Democratic presidential candidate in 2020 and later supported Joe Biden after withdrawing, severed ties with the Democratic Party in 2022 and shifted towards Trump.
Another Trump supporter is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a Democrat known for his environmental activism and anti-vaccine stance. Kennedy is the nephew of former Democratic President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. His father, former Attorney General and Senator Robert Kennedy, also became a presidential candidate in 1968 but was assassinated during his campaign.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. initially ran for the presidency as a Democrat but, alleging fraud in the primaries, continued his candidacy as an "independent." His move to gather signatures for an independent run easily created complications for Biden's campaign. However, Biden’s withdrawal from the race and Kamala Harris stepping in weakened Kennedy's influence. Eventually, Kennedy dropped out of the race and joined Trump’s camp. Even if only a small fraction of voters who supported Kennedy shift towards Trump, it poses a significant risk for Kamala Harris.
Kennedy explained his reasons for supporting Trump after withdrawing his candidacy in a statement titled "Address to the Nation" on Friday, August 23, 2024. In this declaration, Kennedy argued that the Biden administration’s foreign policy was part of the neoconservative playbook. He warned that if Harris were elected President, the neocon dominance within the American government would only become more entrenched.
Given that both Trump and Harris will fight the real battle in the "swing states," even minor shifts in votes could change the game. In recent years, presidential elections have often been determined by a few thousand votes in a handful of states. These few thousand votes play a crucial role in the 535-member "Electoral College," which ultimately selects the U.S. President. A candidate needs at least 270 votes in the Electoral College to win, regardless of how many millions more popular votes they might have over their opponent.
While Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard have joined the "Trump camp," many neoconservatives, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, have chosen to "dance" in the "Harris camp." Cheney, who played a key role in the "Neocon team" that led the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq during George W. Bush’s presidency, is a notable figure in this alliance. His daughter, Liz Cheney, was once among the top Republican leaders in Congress and had led efforts to rid the Republican Party of Trump. After declaring war on Trump, Liz Cheney was removed from her position as Chair of the Republican Conference in 2021.
Liz Cheney once harshly criticized Kamala Harris, labeling her as a "radical liberal." In the neoconservative lexicon, "radical liberal" is synonymous with "far-left." Therefore, the announcement by Liz Cheney and her father, Dick Cheney, that they will vote for Kamala Harris marks a striking contrast. While many neocons, including John Bolton, have stated that they will not vote for Harris, they are openly opposing Trump. This stance is interpreted as an "indirect support" for Kamala Harris and the Democrats.
