Election 2024 campaign: RFK Jr. declares independence as Trump and Haley hold rallies

The 2024 Presidential Election may be more than a year away but candidates including Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are hitting the campaign trail today.

Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr works out

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced he will run for the as an independent bucking the Democratic Party which was synonymous with his family name.

Speaking in Philadelphia, he said: “I'm here today to declare myself an independent candidate for president of the United States.”

The long-time environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist has now added a wrinkle to a 2024 race heading toward a likely rematch between and former .

, a member of one of the most famous Democratic families in politics, was running a longshot primary bid and had better favorability ratings among than .

It’s unclear whether GOP support would translate to a general election when Kennedy would also be running against Trump. Both Biden and Trump allies have at times questioned whether Kennedy would be a spoiler against their candidate.

and Nikki Haley are also out on the campaign trail as the candidates vie for votes ahead of the swiftly approaching GOP Primary season.

Former South Carolina Governor is set for a Town Hall event in Boone in the early voting state of Iowa.

Her former boss, Donald Trump is set to give a campaign speech in the key primary state of New Hampshire later today.

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White House lashes out at RNC for Biden bashing

A White House spokesman has ripped into RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel Monday after she discussed how 2024 GOP hopefuls were responding to the war in Israel.

McDaniel had suggested over the weekend that GOP aspirants had a “great opportunity” to show leadership on foreign policy.

White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said however: “While apparently some individuals like Ronna McDaniel consider this loss of life and pain a ‘great opportunity,’ most Americans see it as a horrific tragedy.”

Bates added: “No one can ever welcome this kind of hideous behavior or try to divide our country when we need to be united.”

11 US citizens dead in Israel conflict, Biden says

Eleven US citizens have died in the conflict in Israel, President Joe Biden said Monday, and an unknown number remain missing.

“As we continue to account for the horrors of the appalling terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of innocent civilians who were murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy,” Biden said in a statement.

“Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed—many of whom made a second home in Israel.”

Trump accuses Biden of 'betraying Israel'

Donald Trump has slammed Joe Biden for what, he feels, is a weak stance about the Israel-Palestine conflict

"Terrorists are pouring into our country," said the embattled ex-president at a campaign event in New Hampshire.

"When I was your President we have peace through strength and now we have weakness, conflict and chaos. The atrocities we are witnessing in Israel would never have happened if I was President," he continued. "It would have never happened."

"Joe Biden betrayed Israel," he concluded. 

Veteran group leader blames Biden for Israel chaos

Bryan Stern, head of a private squad of US military veterans heading to Israel to rescue stranded Americans, lashed out at Joe Biden.

Speaking to the New York Post, the Project DYNAMO head said: “We used to be feared, now we’re laughed at.

“There’s never been anything like DYNAMO before — because there’s never been a need for anything like DYNAMO before.

“The net result is Americans keep getting put in danger, and America keeps embarrassing itself on the world stage.”

RFK Jr already raises $17million on day one as independent

Robert F Kennedy Jr has already raised $17 million for his 2024 bid, after declaring as an independent.

American Values 2024, a super-PAC supporting the candidate, has raised $17 million, co-founder Tony Lyons said at the event, an increase from about $10 million reported in July. 

He expects $10 million more after the announcement, he said.

Donald Trump poised to defeat Biden in 2024 election if RFK runs as independent: new poll

Donald Trump would beat bitter rival Joe Biden and win the presidential election in 2024 if Robert Kennedy Jr (RFK Jr) decides to run as an independent candidate, a stunning new Daily Express US poll has revealed.

Kennedy is continuing to tease that he will run as an independent candidate if he's not given a fair shot against Biden in the 2024 Democratic primaries.

This would likely pave the way for Trump to win back the White House following his defeat three years ago, according to new exclusive polling for the Daily Express US.

More than half (58 percent) of Democratic voters in the latest Democracy Institute/Express US poll

Mike Pence goes after Trump over Israel-Hamas war

Mike Pence has blamed Donald Trump and others for "signaling retreat from America’s role as leader of the free world".

Pence posted a video of an interview in which he blamed Joe Biden and Donald Trump for setting the "conditions for this unprecedented terrorist attack" in Isreal. 

He wrote on X: "This is what happens when we have leading voices like Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ron DeSantis signaling a retreat from America’s role as leader of the free world. When I’m President of the United States, we’ll lead from American Strength."

Trump claims the Israel-Palestine attack would not have happened under his leadership

Donald Trump claimed "terrorists are pouring into our country" during a speech in New Hampshire. 

He added: "When I was your President we had peace through strength and now we have weakness, conflict and chaos.

"The atrocities we are witnessing in Israel would never have happened if I was President. I would have never happened."

He blamed Biden for dealing with Iran. He said: "Joe Biden betrayed Israel."

Donald Trump slams 'crooked Joe': 'He puts China first!

Donald Trump took to the stage in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire where he started by slamming President Joe Biden. 

Trump said: "Crooked Joe puts China first, he puts Mexico first, Ukraine first, Europe first, Asia first, illegal aliens first."

The former president also claimed that Barrack Obama was Joe Biden's "boss". 

Good afternoon

Good afternoon from London. I'm Matthew Dooley and I'll be bringing you the latest from US politics as candidates hit the 2024 campaign trail. 

Please feel free to get in touch if you have a comment, tip or story. Your feedback is always welcome.

Email@ matthew.dooley@reachplc.com 

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