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A recent Economist/YouGov poll shows Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with a significantly higher favorability rating than President Joe Biden. The survey found 49 percent of respondents expressed a positive view of Kennedy, while 30 percent held an unfavorable opinion of him, giving Kennedy a net favorable rating of 19 points. Biden on the other hand holds a favorability rating of -11 points.
This comes on top of a recent Emerson Poll showing Kennedy at 15% among Democratic Primary voters, up from 10% two months ago in another poll.
Most troubling for Biden, Kennedy may be able to attract core members of Biden’s base. Polling shows Kennedy is gaining support with minorities, women, and young people, all groups Biden cannot afford to lose.
Fifteen percent of Blacks and thirteen percent of voters under thirty say they would support Kennedy in the Democratic primaries against Joe Biden.
In addition, Kennedy’s favorability is highest among Black voters. Nearly a quarter of Blacks (24%) say they view Kennedy “very favorably” compared to 10% of Whites and 16% of Hispanics in the poll. Overall, 62% of Blacks view Kennedy either “very favorably” or “somewhat favorably”, giving Kennedy a 44-point favorability rating. Among Whites and Hispanics alike Kennedy holds a 24-point net favorability rating.
Kennedy’s favorability ratings are highest among both very young voters and those over age 65. Fifty percent of voters 18-29 and 49% of voters 65 and above view Kennedy positively. The Democratic contender’s net favorability rating is +27 points with voters under 30 and +12 points with voters over 65.
Lower and middle income voters are Kennedy’s largest supporters, with 49% of those earning less than $50,000 and 51% of those earning between $50,000 and $100,000 a year indicating they have a favorable view of him.
Notably, Trump voters view Kennedy significantly more favorably than Biden voters do, indicating Kennedy is drawing significant support from outside of the Democratic Party. While only 40% of Biden voters view Kennedy favorably, 61% of Trump voters do. Kennedy’s favorability is also highest among Republicans and Independents compared to Democrats. Fifty-six percent of Republicans and 48% of Independents view Kennedy favorability, compared to 44% of Democrats.
When it comes to ideology, Kennedy draws more support from conservatives and moderates than liberals. He is viewed favorably by 56% of conservatives, 54% of moderates and 37% of liberals.
While Kennedy, like former President Trump, polls best among rural voters, he garners significant support from suburban and rural voters too. Just over half (51%) of rural voters view Kennedy favorability, compared to 48% of both suburban and urban voters.
Kennedy’s outsized support among groups who are distinctly not Democrats could pave the way for a third-party run, should he be thwarted in the Democratic primaries, however, Kennedy has stated he intends to win the Democratic nomination.
Previous Morning Consult polling conducted in May found 10% of Democratic primary voters would support Kennedy, which indicates he’s added approximately 5 percentage points of support over the past two months.
That poll as well found the groups President Biden is most at risk of losing to Kennedy include women, younger voters, and middle-class voters.
What is clear is the Biden Administration is losing support among key constituencies, and whether these voters choose to support Kennedy or sit out the Democratic primaries remains to be seen.
Biden currently faces the risk of losing support from various groups, including women, Independents, young people, and working-class voters. The entry of unconventional candidates like Kennedy has led to a growing number of Democrats and leaners moving away from Biden.
If these groups ultimately back Kennedy or another serious contender during the primaries instead of Biden, there is no guarantee they will consolidate their support behind Biden in the general election if he becomes the establishment’s nominee.

Manzanita Miller is an associate analyst with Americans for Limited Government Foundation.

The legacy of Kalix Broussard and Ramsie Baumgardner continues to live on by helping others despite them not being with us today.
Both 18-year-olds were killed in auto accidents in Vermilion Parish two years apart.
Broussard was killed on January 27, 2020 as a result of an automobile accident on La. 14. next to Southern Oaks Golf Course in Abbeville. A car crossed the center line and hit Broussard’s truck head on. He was 18 years old and a 1999 Vermilion Catholic graduate.
On Jan. 23, 2022, North Vermilion High senior Ramsie Baumgarder died on Hwy. 167 in a two-car accident. She was traveling south on Hwy. 167 and ran into a car head-on. The collision on Hwy. 167 near Lurby Road also killed Brandon Isaac of Carencro, the driver of the a vehicle that was driving the wrong way.
Despite not being with us, both 18 year olds are making a difference thanks to many great people in Vermilion Parish.
A scholarship fund has been set up in their names and ironically, the two different fund raisers for the scholarships are happening this week.

Ramsie fundraiser today (July 12) at Riverfront

Ramsie’s parents set up a Ramsie Baungardner Scholarship in 2022. The scholarship is given to a North Vermilion graduate who met certain qualifications. The NV graduate had to play two sports, along with being involved in the community and school while maintaining at least a 3.0 grade point average.
In 2022, the Baumgardner family awarded 10 $1,000 scholarships to NV seniors - five male and five female students. The reason it was 10 was because it was Ramsie’s class.
This past school year, one $1,000 scholarship was awarded to one student, Ava Cawyer.
In order to raise money for the Ramsie Baumgarder Scholarship, two fundraisers happen each year. Normally in October, Snap Fitness in Maurice holds a 5-K run and part of the proceeds go towards her scholarship.
The second fundraiser is occuring all day today at Riverfront Resturant in Abbeville.
The resturant is donating 20 percent of its sales to the scholarship. Darrel Fontenot will provide music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Riverfront offered to help because Ramsie was employed at Riverfront at the time of her death.
“I never realized the impact she had on so many people,” said Brian Baumgarder about his daughter. “We were so overwelmed at the funeral.”
The scholarship helps Ramsie continue to make an impact on someone’s liife despite not being here, he said.
“I am hoping there will be a good turnout,” he added. The Vermilion Parish community comes together.”

Golf tournament Saturday for Kalix scholarship

This weekend is the third annual Kalix Broussard Memorial Golf Tournament at Southern Oaks Country Club.
The four-man scramble is fundraiser to support a scholarship established by the Foundation of Acadiana.
The golf tournament is a 4-man scramble and has already reached its 36-team capacity.
The tournament is put on by Paul Whittington, who owns Whittington Veterinary Clinic in Abbeville. Kalix worked at the veterinary clinic.
“Paul is a great guy,” said Bubba Broussard, Kalix’s father. “He is selfless. You can not ask for a better human being.”
The tournament continues to grow which is great, said Broussard. Kalix’s football jersey was No. 16. On the 16th hole, there are special games to play.
When deciding who is awarded the scholarship, grades, academic or athletic achievements are not seriously looked at.
The scholarship goes to a Vermilion Catholic senior who has the same work ethics as Kalix. His father said students write an essay to the scholarship committee explaining how they live their lives and does it compare how Kalix’s lived his.
“Kalix went above and beyond to help others,” said Broussard. “It is a just a check in hand,. They can use the money to start a new job. Not everyone goes to college.”
Winning each $2,500 this past school year were Ashton Belaire and Zoe Melancon.
Broussard and his family plan to be helping at the tournament.
“I missed the first one because of work, but I attended last year. I was surprised by everyone and how the community came out. It was pretty amazing all of the volunteers. Kalix would be proud.”
Also, part of the proceeds of the golf tournament will go towards Dustin Bertrand’s God Made Self Driven Ministry. Kalix and Bertrand were friends.

From the earliest days I can remember, the beginning of July has been the beginning of fig season, the time when grandkids were dispatched to the back yard to pick fruit from eight big trees and my grandmother cooked fig preserves by the dish-pan-full.
Until I went away to college it never occurred to me that it was possible to have a meal — morning, noon, or night — without a jar of fig preserves on the table.
My grandfather was in charge of keeping the trees healthy and filled with figs each year. He swore that the secret was to let the chickens run beneath the trees. They scratched at the soil, helping to bring air to the tree roots and, of course, naturally fertilized the ground. He also trimmed two of the trees almost to the ground each year in a regular rotation that kept the trees to a size where all of the figs could be reached.
“I grow ‘em for your grandmother, not for the birds to eat,” he said.
And my grandmother needed all the figs she could get. She made enough preserves to keep her extended family supplied until the next season and to distribute to friends far and wide. Nobody left her house without a jar of preserves, but they had to promise to return the empty jar to be used next year. People kept their promises, and returned the jars to be stored away (mouth down) on a long shelf in grandad’s work shed until next fig season.
My grandmother became so well known for her figs that one of the eulogists at her funeral said her role in heaven was likely to be handing out preserves to newcomers at the Pearly Gates
That eulogy has the ring of truth to me. I know that she gave them to saints on earth. I vividly remember the day when I, a lad of about 10, was in line behind her to go to confession. When she — a good, pious woman — failed to emerge after what seemed like half an hour, I, knowing full well that I was condemning my young soul to Hades, had to edge closer to the curtained confessional to hear what she could possibly be confessing for all that time.
When I did, I heard Monsignor Boudreaux, wearily replying, apparently for the umpteenth time, “No, Aunt Bab, we don’t need any more fig preserves. You left plenty at the rectory.”
We also ate fresh figs doused liberally with cream and sugar for breakfast, but the preserves were the thing, made according to a recipe that I still use:
4 quarts of figs with stems
1 tablespoon of baking soda
3 quarts of boiling water
8 cups of sugar (4 pounds)
1 quart of water
Place the figs in a large bowl and sprinkle them with baking soda. Pour over them three quarts of boiling water and soak the figs for one hour. Drain the figs and rinse them thoroughly in cold water. Combine eight cups of sugar and one quart of water in a large Dutch oven. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Add the figs to the syrup. Cook them about one hour, stirring about every 15 minutes. Figs should be tender and clear when done. Spoon the figs into hot, sterilized jars. Wipe the rims of the jars with a damp towel and make sure the lids are tight. Process the jars in boiling water for 5 minutes. This makes about eight pints.
You will notice there is no lemon peel in this recipe. Adding it to fig preserves, in my grandmother’s eyes, was not only the wrong way to cook figs, but something of a social or moral failing.
“She’s a nice woman,” she’d say sadly of a neighbor, “but you know she puts lemon peel in her preserves.”
You could infer from her tone and sadness that someone who committed such a folly probably took an occasional nip from the cooking sherry and often voted wrong at election time.
One must treat these people kindly, of course, but must also worry over what will become of them.
It is not often that I speak ex cathedra, with the same authority as the Pope, but I can guarantee this: If you go to heaven, and Aunt Bab is passing out preserves, don’t expect lemons peel.
You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

What’s inside you influences your perception. A common misconception is that you feel good in response to good things happening. In reality, you will have more favorable experiences when you are happy and content. The following story illustrates the essence of this concept.
Aaron, a 98-year-old man recently lost his wife, Alice. They had been married 70 years and lived independently in their own home. Aaron was legally blind and depended a lot on Alice. Together, they had a rewarding and happy life. After Alice’s passing, Aaron decided to move into an adult care home.
Aaron made quite an impression on the staff from the moment they first met him. He walked into the facility proudly, with a big smile. Aaron’s vivacious attitude brightened everyone he came into contact with.
Unlike some other residents, Aaron never complained. He had no bitterness. Carol, one of the nurses, took a particular liking to Aaron. She always enjoyed speaking with him. Carol made a point to visit with Aaron as often as possible.
During one conversation, Carol asked Aaron how he stayed so upbeat. Here is what Aaron told her:
“Every day, I am thankful for the gifts I have. When I awake each morning, I know it will be a great day. Some parts of my body don’t operate as well as they used to, so I appreciate what is still working. My days may be numbered. Nevertheless, I am determined to make the most of each one.
Although I miss my wife, I am grateful for all the wonderful years we shared together. It brings me joy to reminisce about the good times we had. I know I can’t stop life’s changes, but I can adapt and adjust. I live for today and look forward to tomorrow.
I think about how fortunate I have always been. I’ve always had a roof over my head, clothes to wear, and enough to eat. I was never jealous about what others had. Even though others had more possessions, I have always been happy.
I accept people for who they are. How they behave is out of my control. I accept responsibility for myself. I’m always striving to become a better person. I am considerate of others. I treat each person I meet with dignity. I take care not to cause anyone harm or discomfort.
My thoughts and emotions are my own. I don’t allow anyone to control them. Regardless of what may be happening around me, I can be serene inside. My eyes are not working that well but it’s my mind that determines what I see. I choose to see beauty wherever I am. It’s such a shame when people with perfect sight only see trouble and despair.
I don’t allow the poisons of bitterness or hatred into my body because they will destroy me. Regardless of what may happen, I say to myself, ‘where do I go from here?’ The only direction for me is forward.
What I don’t understand, Carol, is why more people are not smiling and happy. Life is a gift that should be treasured.”
Carol was touched. Aaron, this sweet old man, was such an inspiration. He was elderly, a widower, blind, and frail, yet Carol had never met anyone with such a clear mind and beautiful outlook on life.
Although experience is a good teacher, someone else’s experience is a better teacher. We can all learn from Aaron’s wisdom. The lessons Aaron acquired over a lifetime can help us all be better people.
Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at bryan@columnist.com.