'Just lost my vote': Internet divided as Robert F Kennedy Jr announces California lawyer Nicole Shanahan as his VP pick

WASHINGTON, DC: The California lawyer and philanthropist Nicole Shanahan has been named as the vice president pick of presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr, according to Al Jazeera.

Kennedy, a member of one of the most well-known political dynasties in the US and the son of the late Attorney General Robert Kennedy, revealed his pick on Tuesday, March 26, during a rally in Oakland, California.

RFK Jr names Nicole Shanahan as his VP pick

While introducing Shanahan as his VP pick, RFK Jr said, "I wanted someone who is battle-tested, able to withstand criticism and the controversy and all the defamations and slanders and perjuries that are thrown against anyone who embarks on a presidential campaign."

Notably, Kennedy received flak for his third-party candidacy as well as for his divisive opinions, which included spreading false information about vaccines. In the 2024 presidential contest, he is still considered a distant competitor against President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, who are anticipated to face off again.

However, critics caution that Kennedy may act as a 'spoiler candidate', taking votes away from what is expected to be a fiercely contested rematch between Biden and Trump.

In a poll conducted earlier this month by Reuters and Ipsos, Biden led Trump by only one percentage point, with 39 percent of respondents supporting him compared to 38 percent for Trump.

Notably, 11 percent of the participants expressed their intention to select a different candidate, and 12 percent were confused about whether or not to cast a ballot.

Born and raised in the Democratic bastion of the left-leaning state of California, Shanahan is a recent arrival to politics. She was a longstanding Democratic fundraiser and even supported Biden's 2020 presidential candidacy. She is the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

Kennedy also called her an 'avid surfer who attended school on a softball scholarship', while she stood on the stage behind a banner that said, 'Declare your independence'. He also emphasized her background as a lawyer with knowledge of artificial intelligence and Silicon Valley, the US center of innovation.

Moreover, Kennedy told the crowd, "Technology has been a lifelong passion for my future vice president. This is important because I also wanted a vice president who shares my indignation about the participation of big tech as a partner in the censorship and the surveillance and the information warfare that our government is currently waging against the American people."

Internet stays divided as Nicole Shanahan named as RFK Jr's VP pick

People on the internet had mixed reactions as RFK Jr announced Nicole Shanahan as his VP pick. A user posted on X, "Ugh…I was seriously considering voting for him until now," whereas one mentioned, "You just lost me, Bobby."

 A user also wrote, "In other words, someone with no name recognition …he just lost my vote," while one added, "I’ll vote RFK - can’t do Joe or Donald."

A person also stated, "Anyone but Biden in the White House," whereas one added, "Good luck. No harm in seeing this Generation gain a voice through the Kennedy name."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.