Presidential candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Vivek Ramaswamy will speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) set to begin Oct. 18, according to a press release obtained exclusively by the Daily Caller.
The newly announced speakers will join other prominent conservative figures such as Chris Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and soon-to-be Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake for the four-day event in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ramaswamy has increased in popularity during the race for the Republican presidential ticket while RFK Jr. continues to make a stir as he is expected to jump from the Democratic party to the independent ticket. (RELATED: Kari Lake Files To Run For U.S. Senate)
“Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a unique voice in advocating for the defunding of the weaponized bureaucracy and ensuring the constitutional right of medical freedom,” Matt Schlapp, CPAC Chairman, said in a statement to the Daily Caller. “Kennedy joining such an important event is a reflection of the splintering of the left-wing coalition that has gone full woke Marxist to the point that traditional liberals don’t feel welcome anymore.”
After announcing his run for president in April, Kennedy saw a spike in support within the Democratic Party early in his campaign, hitting a peak of 21%, according to an April 27 Emerson College poll. In the following months, Kennedy’s popularity within the party declined as he now seems more popular with Republicans, according to a July Morning Consult survey. Kennedy’s popularity with Republicans can most likely be attributed to his vocal opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine.
GOP Presidential Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy talks to a protester outside of of his SiriusXM Town Hall at New England College on October 6, 2023 in Henniker, New Hampshire. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Ramaswamy became a breakout candidate in the race for the Republican presidential ticket following the first GOP primary debate. The businessman even admitted himself that he exceeded his “own expectations” during the August debate.
“We are also honored to have Vivek Ramaswamy – a true patriot and rising star fighting for the values of life and liberty for every American,” Schlapp said in a statement to the Daily Caller. “Ramaswamy has made a massive impact on the political scene in a short amount of time. He comes from the world of business and is willing to courageously fight the woke agenda of corporate America.”
The October CPAC event is an investors summit and will not be open to the media.