United States | Spoiler alert

How Robert F. Kennedy junior’s effect on the election has shifted

Historically, polls have tended to overstate the strength of third parties 

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at a rally in Austin, Texas on May 13th 2024
Photograph: Getty Images

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are sure to be on the ballot in November in all 50 states. Not so all the would-be candidates from third parties. Several such candidates have been facing the distraction of lawsuits that seek to stop them competing in some states.

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This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Spoiler alert”

From the August 24th 2024 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

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Both parties are telling very different stories about gender