Meghan McCain recently warned Democrats to tread carefully, as independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pulled out of the race and endorsed Donald Trump. This move could leave a significant number of voters in Arizona unsettled.
The daughter of the late Senator John McCain shared her thoughts on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, emphasizing that with RFK polling at 6-7% in Arizona, Democrats shouldn’t lose sight of the competitive nature of the race. “This is still a toss-up,” she stated, citing the importance of every vote regardless of celebrity endorsements.
Many celebrities have aligned themselves with both candidates, with Vice President Kamala Harris gaining support from stars like Spike Lee and Mark Cuban, while Trump counts figures like Elon Musk and Kid Rock among his backers.
RFK is polling between 6-7% in Arizona which could make a real difference.
Democrats shouldn’t get out over their skis, this is still a toss up race – despite how many celebrity endorsements they have.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 24, 2024
According to The Hill’s aggregate polling data before Kennedy Jr.’s exit, Harris led with 44.8% while Trump followed closely at 43.3%. With Kennedy Jr.’s departure, his previous 5% could sway the election in Arizona, a key battleground state.
Current polls indicate a tight race, with Harris and Trump neck-and-neck as they pursue Arizona’s 11 crucial Electoral College votes. For instance, The New York Times shows both candidates at an even 47%, while FiveThirtyEight indicates Harris slightly ahead by 1.4 points.
In McCain’s recent post, she addressed the reactions from Kennedy Jr.’s family, reaffirming her stance: “I don’t support Trump and will not be supporting Trump.”
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIME
A recent Univision poll highlights voter preferences in Arizona, revealing that 59% of likely Hispanic voters back Harris, while only 34% support Trump. Conversely, non-Hispanic voters show Trump leading Harris by 16 points, indicating stark differences in support among demographic groups.
With the election looming, it’s clear that every vote counts, and both campaigns will need to strategize effectively to sway undecided voters.