Tulsi Gabbard turned down RFK Jr.'s offer to be his running mate, she says

ABC News ^ | April 2, 2024 | Beatrice Peterson

[Macho MAGA Man]

Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who left the Democratic Party in 2022, declined an offer to be Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s running mate in his independent presidential bid, she tells ABC News.

"I met with Kennedy several times, and we have become good friends," she said in a statement. "He asked if I would be his running mate. After careful consideration, I respectfully declined."

Gabbard declined to explain why she turned down that offer, which has not previously been reported.

She is among an eclectic group of people whom Kennedy had considered for the role, including former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura and TV host Mike Rowe.

He announced at an Oakland, California, rally last week that he had chosen Silicon Valley lawyer Nicole Shanahan, whose younger age, work in health and artificial intelligence appealed to him.

[Bullish]

At this point, what does it matter who RFK jr picks?

[erlayman]

Depends what you consider the light I suppose. Although it would be interesting with Trump to find out why the offer got rejected I doubt very much it will happen. Plus she endorsed Kennedy not long ago saying most of her views were aligned with his and can’t run effectively on that platform anymore.

[erlayman]

As long as you don’t hold dual or multiple citizenships of course which doesn’t apply in this case although I thought Congress had granted that to American Samoans already ?

[Pollard]

She is among an eclectic group of people whom Kennedy had considered for the role, including former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura and TV host Mike Rowe.

So he was looking for a spokesperson for a popularity contest.

He announced at an Oakland, California, rally last week that he had chosen Silicon Valley lawyer Nicole Shanahan, whose younger age, work in health and artificial intelligence appealed to him.

When he couldn't get one, he went for a total leftist activist lawyer.

[Pollard]

In the 2010s and 2020s, Shanahan made various contributions to left-leaning organizations and Democratic political candidates,[11] including Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and the congressional campaigns of Ro Khanna.[15] In 2020, Shanahan was a "major donor" for Measure J, a criminal justice reform referendum in Los Angeles County.[33] In the same year, she contributed $150,000 to support George Gascón in his challenge to incumbent Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey.[34]

During the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, Shanahan contributed $2,800 each to the campaigns of Marianne Williamson and Pete Buttigieg.[10] She co-hosted a fundraiser for Buttigieg in December 2019, along with other wealthy Silicon Valley figures.[10][35] After Joe Biden became the presumptive nominee, she supported the Biden presidential campaign, contributing $25,000 to the Biden Victory Fund,[10][7] and a five-figure sum to the Democratic National Committee.[15]

[erlayman]

He needs to make Tulsi pay for that. And snagged one of the richest women in the world which may help when you have expenses normal candidate don’t like personal security and getting on the ballot in all 50 states.

[MayflowerMadam]

I can’t see him and Mike Rowe together. Maybe I’m missing something, but they just seem so opposite

[erlayman]

They seem to agree more than not although one point of difference was likely the 15$ minimum wage that Rowe couldn’t in good conscience support.