This is Mary Wilson, producer for the Daily, in downtown Philadelphia waiting for a campaign event with presidential candidate RFK Jr.

It's about three hours before he's expected to speak, and there are already maybe a few dozen supporters here, and I'm going to start talking to him.

Are you a supporter of RFK Jr.?

Yes. Actually, I'm going to support a big time.

I have followed him for several years even before he decided to be a presidential campaign. I have always appreciated his honesty.

I've listened to everything. Every interview I can get my hands on.

And I think RFK is just wants the people to know the truth, and from the research that I've done, the little rabbit holes that I've gone down,

it aligns with a lot of stuff that Kennedy says to be the truth.

I'm going to RFK.

From New York Times, I'm Michael Barrow. This is the Daily.

Today, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was once dismissed as a fringe figure in the 2024 President Joray's, but this week as he announced an independent run for the White House,

he's striking fear within both the Democratic and Republican parties.

My colleague, political correspondent Rebecca O'Brien, explains why.

It's Thursday, October 12th.

Rebecca, a few days ago, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that he was running for president as an independent.

Which all but insurers that he can be a candidate in the general election next fall.

He doesn't have to go through a difficult primary process.

He can't really be knocked out of the race because he's not a Democrat Republican.

And the question immediately became when he announced, how much does this really matter?

Because third party and independent candidates have a very spotty record in the US.

So the Democratic and Republican parties think that this move really does matter because it has the potential to draw votes from both sides.

There's always a risk that independent candidates will draw support from the two parties.

...