Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign manager announced on Wednesday that a New York campaign staff member, Rita Palma, was fired after making controversial statements at a meeting last week. Palma reportedly told GOP voters that preventing President Joe Biden's victory was her 'number one priority' and encouraged them to volunteer for former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania.
The campaign manager, Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, stated that Palma was terminated for misrepresentation as she provided inaccurate information about her job title and described a conversation that did not occur. Palma confirmed her dismissal and expressed her continued support for Kennedy, calling the focus on her comments a 'distraction.'
Palma, who identified herself as the Kennedy campaign's New York state director, urged voters to collect signatures for Kennedy, vote for him in New York, and volunteer for Trump in Pennsylvania to block Biden from winning the presidency. The Kennedy campaign, however, downplayed Palma's role, referring to her as a 'ballot access consultant.'
The Biden campaign has criticized Kennedy's candidacy as a potential spoiler that could benefit Trump in the upcoming election. While Democrats have actively opposed Kennedy, the Trump campaign has not engaged significantly with the independent candidate, with Trump himself expressing support for Kennedy's run.
The Kennedy campaign is focused on obtaining ballot access in New York, considering it a critical step in qualifying for the ballot in all 50 states and Washington, DC. Organizers are working across all 62 counties in New York to gather the required 45,000 valid signatures between April 16 and May 28.
