In the last week, there has been a real push for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dropping out of the 2024 US presidential election and endorsing one of the candidates.

Here are the latest stories that suggest RFK may not make it to the November ballot:

• Kennedy’s campaign is running out of money, the poll numbers are getting worse, and voters can’t look past oddball stories like his admission to dumping a dead bear cub in Central Park in 2014.
• Last week, a judge denied RFK ballot access in New York for using a “sham” New York address on his petition as he lives in California.
• Last week, RFK reportedly called Kamala Harris’ campaign to secure a Cabinet position if he endorses her. Kennedy has called this report fake news.
• On Tuesday, Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, said in a podcast interview that dropping out and endorsing Trump is certainly an option.
• Trump has said he likes and respects RFK Jr. and would probably give him a role in the administration if he dropped out and endorsed Trump.

While the Democratic National Convention is going on in Chicago, this remains a very tight race with Harris and Trump running even in the current betting odds. Kennedy has virtually no chance of winning, but if he could swing a few percentage points of the vote to one candidate over the other, that could be decisive in November.

What is he likely to do?

Don’t Expect a Harris Endorsement

Kennedy is not likely to endorse the Democratic ticket after leaving the party in 2023 to run as an independent. In claiming to have met the other candidates, Kennedy said he couldn’t secure a meeting with Harris.

“The other candidates have met with me, Kamala Harris has said she doesn’t want to,” Kennedy said. “I believe it would be tough for me to work with their administration unless they committed to a lot of different changes.”

Shanahan, his Silicon Valley running mate, took things further in a podcast interview on Tuesday. She accused the Democratic party of “sabotaging” the Kennedy campaign by planting insiders in the campaign to cause legal issues for it. These claims have not been verified by any sources.

But Shanahan also made a stunning admission that RFK’s campaign takes votes away from Trump more than it does Harris:

“But we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and Walz presidency, as we draw votes from Trump — we draw somehow more votes from Trump,” Shanahan said.

Trump Should Seek RFK Endorsement

Ever since Joe Biden dropped out of the race in late July and was replaced by Vice President Harris, the numbers have been going against Trump, who had a big lead when it was against Biden.

The RNC and choice of JD Vance as his running mate have not been beneficial. Trump’s rally attendance has not been as good in recent weeks, and there is a sense that his message has gotten stale as it was prepared to attack Biden instead of Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

So, if Trump can negotiate a position in his administration for Kennedy if he drops out and gives him his endorsement, he should do it. Even a few percentage points in the vote can win a swing state like Pennsylvania or Michigan.

On Tuesday night, US election odds at the top-rated sportsbooks have Harris at 49.2% and Trump at 49%, so this is extremely close right now. Every vote very well may count, so if Trump can do business with RFK, it would be wise.

It’s more likely to happen than a Harris endorsement from RFK.