Libertarian chair: No decision on RFK Jr.

Angela McArdle, the chair of the Libertarian National Committee, said no decision has been made about whether independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will join the Libertarian Party’s presidential ticket.

“I’m not allowed to actively recruit anyone for the presidential nomination,” McArdle said on a Wednesday appearance of “The Hill on NewsNation.” “I’m certainly friendly with his campaign, just like I am with all the other candidates’ campaigns though.”

McArdle told host Blake Burman that she thinks it’s a wise decision for Kennedy to be eyeing the Libertarian Party.

Kennedy spoke late last month at the party’s annual convention in California and has fueled speculation that he would join the Libertarian Party to qualify for more states in the general election.

“I’m sure we’re appealing right now,” McArdle said of the party’s efforts to be on the ballot in all 50 states.

Kennedy, who began his campaign as a Democratic challenger to President Biden, later declared an independent bid to take on both Biden and former President Trump.

While Kennedy has only casually entertained the idea of making another switch to the Libertarian Party, several sources told The Hill that there is growing support among party members for him to be the candidate this fall.

McArdle said the party has no favorite candidates “right now,” which is “not a knock” against Kennedy.

“You know, we have a very ornery group of delegates. They’re very interested in finding the best, most principles messenger, someone who represents us ideologically,” she said.

“We also have a group of people who are very focused on ballot access, and of course, having Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as our candidate would absolutely seal ballot access for us, but it’s not decided yet,” McArdle continued.

She argued that if Kennedy became the Libertarian Party’s nominee, “there would be an understanding with us that he doesn’t 100 percent represent us ideologically.”

Burman questioned if Kennedy would be using the party to continue his candidacy, and McArdle said it might be a “mutually beneficial relationship.”

Kennedy would get on the ballot in many states and the party would be securing ballot access and potential federal funding in the future in exchange, she said.

“The Hill on NewsNation” airs Monday to Friday at 5 p.m.

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