Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) admitted she has “some concern” about third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. being on the ballot in Michigan, but said President Joe Biden deserves to win her state this fall.
Speaking on CNN, Whitmer was asked about Kennedy’s ability to disrupt the election, especially given that he attracted 9% support in a recent state poll.
“This is Michigan,” Whitmer acknowledged. “Elections are always close here.”
.@GretchenWhitmer to @DanaBashCNN: “[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] has got lots of far-out, kind of wild ideas about science and the future, and doesn’t even have the support of his own family.” pic.twitter.com/6cHb8QB2AF
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) June 9, 2024
Michigan is one of three “blue-wall” states, along with Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, that former President Donald Trump flipped to win the election in 2016. Biden took them back in 2020. and both candidates are now working overtime to win them this year.
“President Biden has a huge list of accomplishments,” Whitmer continued. “We’re seeing the onshoring of supply chains. We’re seeing the growth of good manufacturing jobs. This is the first president in a long time that has been able to deliver on infrastructure and has a real manufacturing vision that is playing out every day in good-paying jobs.”
Addressing the question directly, she said that all candidates are a factor.
“Kennedy, or any third party candidate, gives me some concern and is to be taken seriously,” Whitmer said. “That’s why we’re showing up, and we’re working hard in all 83 counties to earn the votes of the people.”
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She finished the clip by implying that Republican voters are the ones who may be attracted to Kennedy.
“There are a lot of good, traditional Republicans who don’t feel at home with the convicted felon at the top of the ballot,” Whiter said, “who know that Kennedy has got lots of far out, kind of wild ideas about science and the future, and who doesn’t even have the support of his own family. All that being said, we can’t make any assumptions. We’ve got to earn every single vote, and that’s what we’re doing.”