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Robert Kennedy Jr. has selected attorney Nicole Shanahan, a contributor to his campaign, as his running made.
Kennedy, who is running an independent campaign for the presidency, made the announcement at an event in Oakland today. CNN and Fox News carried Kennedy’s reveal of his pick; MSNBC reported on it later.
After being introduced by his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, Kennedy told supporters that he wanted someone “I wanted someone with a spiritual dimension, and compassion, and idealism, and above all a deep love of the United States of America.” He said that Shanahan was also a “brilliant scientist, technologist, a fierce warrior mom.”
Shanahan has never run for elective office. She reportedly was involved in the production of a $7 million Kennedy Super Bowl ad that mimicked the 1960 spot for his uncle, John F. Kennedy.
Shanahan is the former wife of Sergey Brin, the co-founder of Google.
Kennedy is in the midst of the costly process of trying to obtain access to the ballot in major swing states. Shanahan could contribute her own money to the campaign effort.
A number of other members of Kennedy’s family oppose his presidential bid, and recently appeared at the White House for a group shot with Joe Biden. A Biden-supporting Super PAC, Clear Choice, also launched an ad campaign today warning that Kennedy’s bid would be as a “spoiler” who would help Donald Trump win.
Kennedy picked Shanahan but also confirmed that he had had discussions with former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura and football star Aaron Rodgers. Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe also said that he had conversations with Kennedy.
