John Kennedy Unloads On Weak GOP Candidates With 2028 Plan
Senator John Kennedy said Sunday he might run for president in 2028 if other GOP candidates are weak. He told NBC's "Meet the Press" that his current plan is to seek re-election to the Senate. Should he conclude that rival contenders lack effectiveness, he stated he might explore running for president. Kennedy, 74, faces re-election in two years according to the New York Post.
He told host Kristen Welker that he has not made a final decision yet. "My plans right now are to run for re-election, but as I've said before, if I don't think I can be effective in the Senate anymore, I would consider it," Kennedy said. The Washington Examiner reported he declined to speculate on taking on Vice President JD Vance.
Kennedy said he assumes the Vice President will run for the top job. He noted that a full field is good for both parties. "I assume JD is going to run just like I think Rahm is going to run, but I think it'll be good for both parties to have to have a full field," he told Breitbart. He joked about a Judds song when asked why he might run.
Kennedy also defended Senator Tom Cotton after President Trump released Cotton's personal phone number. The President was angry that Cotton blocked a bill to make daylight savings time permanent. Kennedy told the New York Post that the President "exists loudly" and can be tempestuous.
He said Cotton deserves support for his strong stance on the issue. "Tom Cotton feels strongly about it. Tom is a rock star senator," Kennedy said. He argued that changing the time on the clock is not a major crisis. Occasionally, conflicts arise within Congress possessing existential weight for the future of Western civilization. Daylight Savings Time is not one of them, he added.
Kennedy did not agree with the President sharing private contact information. "I don't think he should have given out Tom's cellphone number," he said. The Washington Examiner noted that Kennedy has been traveling to support other candidates in the upcoming midterms.
Kennedy is currently on a nationwide tour to help Republicans win in the next election. He traveled to Ohio to campaign for Senator Jon Husted. The Washington Examiner reported he also visited New Hampshire to work with former Senator John Sununu.
He plans to return to New Hampshire, which holds the first primary in the nation. Kennedy said he will also head to Texas and Michigan soon. The GOP identifies these two states as critical targets during the midterm elections. He emphasized that his travel plans are his own.
Kennedy said he would consider running for president only if he feels he cannot serve well in the Senate anymore.