Cuomo Asks RFK Jr. Whether Wealthy VP Contender Would ‘Be in the Running if She Was Broke’

NewsNation host Chris Cuomo asked independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday whether wealthy donor Nicole Shanahan would still be on his running mate shortlist “if she was broke.”

During an interview with Kennedy, Cuomo brought up Mediaite’s report that Shanahan is expected to be announced as Kennedy’s running mate next week.

“The criticism is that if this person is being considered, let alone the choice, she’s known to have a lot of money, and is the suggestion that you are willing to pay for an election,” he noted.

“I would never choose a vice presidential candidate based upon how much money that they have,” Kennedy insisted, before adding:

One of the principal priorities of our campaign is bringing young people into politics and addressing the deprivation that is now– and hopelessness that is affecting this generation. Nicole, like Aaron, like Aaron Rodgers, has been interested in regenerative agriculture, in press freedom, in ending the chronic disease epidemic, in addressing the terrible national debt – $34 trillion, again, that’s hitting these young people.

So, you know, I like both of them and I think we just had an abundance of really great candidates that we talked to. We have now chosen somebody and we’re gonna announce that next Tuesday.

After Cuomo pressed, “Would Shanahan be in the running if she was broke?” Kennedy replied, “Yes, absolutely.”

Mediaite senior reporter Diana Falzone reported on Saturday that Shanahan, the former wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin who spent $4 million on Kennedy’s Super Bowl ad, was expected to be announced soon as Kennedy’s running mate over New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

An unnamed source close to the Kennedy campaign told Mediaite, “The campaign is also looking for a candidate who can help finance the ballot access initiative.”

“She might be infusing millions of dollars into the campaign to help fund the ballot initiative, which makes her attractive financially,” the source added. “However, she lacks the qualifications to actually do the job.”

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