Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a member of the well-known Catholic Kennedy family, has recently released a new TV ad urging Catholics to support former President Trump. In the $250,000 ad, Kennedy talks about his faith and expresses his reasons for backing Trump for the presidency. He highlights Trump’s promises to take action on the economy, border security, and children’s health, while criticizing the Democratic Party for issues such as war, censorship, and corruption.
The ad, produced by the conservative group CatholicVote, will first air in Pennsylvania before being broadcast in other swing states. This comes at a crucial time, just before a closely contested election where Catholic voters could play a significant role in determining the outcome.
CatholicVote President Brian Burch has criticized Vice President Kamala Harris’s stance on abortion, stating that it goes against Catholic social teaching. Burch believes that Harris is taking a gamble by alienating people of faith in her coalition-building efforts.
The collaboration between Kennedy and CatholicVote followed extensive discussions on abortion-related issues. Burch emphasized the need to support women in choosing to keep their children, rather than focusing solely on providing access to abortions.
The Trump campaign is actively seeking support from Catholic voters, with Vice President JD Vance penning an op-ed accusing Harris of displaying prejudice against Catholics. Trump and his team are making efforts to appeal to Catholic voters in key battleground states, where the Catholic population can significantly impact the election outcome.
Historically, Catholic voters have been evenly split between the two major parties. The side that garners the majority of Catholic votes often wins the White House. In the 2020 election, President Biden secured more Catholic votes than Trump, but in 2016, Trump had the support of the majority of Catholic voters.
It is evident that both Republicans and Democrats are vying for the support of Catholic voters, recognizing the significant influence this demographic holds in national elections. As the election approaches, the focus on appealing to Catholic voters is likely to intensify, with both parties making efforts to address key issues that resonate with this group.
