Robert F Kennedy jnr’s election campaign: ‘I think he is going to be president Kennedy’

It has been a while since a Kennedy campaigned for president in Washington DC. And of course, the iconic banner – “Kennedy for President” in red, white and blue – remains an evocative and even painful sight for the twilight generation of the 1950s and 1960s. But this iteration of the dynasty is an outsider: the 70-year old son of Robert F Kennedy, estranged from the Democratic Party tradition that holds in reverence his late father and uncle.

He is hell-bent on an independent campaign that has been disavowed by many – but not all – of his immediate family members. Outside the vast curving Hilton hotel in Dupont, itself a city landmark (where Hendrix played, where John Hinkley shot president Ronald Reagan) are mobile screens “exposing Kennedy for who he really is”. But through the haze of negative publicity, his campaign continues to gather pace.

Robert F Kennedy jnr is here to court delegates of the Libertarian Party, a fringe presence in American politics since 1971. Members at this gathering make for a motley, colourful crew. The motto for the convention is “Become Ungovernable”.

READ MORE Robert F Kennedy jnr’s election campaign: ‘I think he is going to be president Kennedy’ Last laugh for Trump as Nikki Haley changes her primary colours ‘From midnight tweets, to drinking bleach’: De Niro narrates Biden campaign ad warning Trump has ‘snapped’ Attendees listen as Kennedy speaks at the Libertarian National Convention on Friday in Washington .