Robert F Kennedy Jr withdraws from presidential race in Arizona ahead of expected announcement

Donald Trump tells CNN he would ‘certainly be open’ to the independent candidate playing a role in a future Republican administration

Independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr has filed paperwork to withdraw from the presidential race in the state of Arizona.
The move is viewed as the first step to the 70-year-old formally pulling out the race for the White House.
The nephew of the late president John F Kennedy has reportedly been seeking a deal with Donald Trump in which he endorses the former president in exchange for a senior job in a future Republican administration.
Trump told CNN this week he would “certainly be open” to Kennedy playing a role in his administration if the independent candidate dropped out and endorsed him.
Mr Kennedy and his running mate Nicole Shanahan have now issued a “voluntary withdrawal” from November’s election in Arizona, according to its Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.
Earlier this week, Mr Kennedy’s campaign announced he will be delivering a speech in Phoenix, Arizona on Friday to discuss his “path forward”.
Mr Kennedy, a former environmental lawyer, has the support of around five per cent of voters nationwide.
His campaign was based on small-state liberalism and the rejection of large corporations.
His exit will prompt a scramble by both major parties to absorb some of his voters, which could push either Trump or Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, over the finish line in key swing states.
A poll by the Wall Street Journal found that around half of RFK Jr voters would be likely to swing towards Trump, while around a quarter would go to Ms Harris.
If he endorses Trump, more voters may transfer their allegiance to him.