Conspiracy theorists Aaron Rodgers and Jesse Ventura top RFK Jr’s running mate wish list

Conspiracy theorists Aaron Rodgers and Jesse Ventura top the running mate wish list for independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr.

Mr Kennedy, himself an avowed anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, initially ran for the Democratic nomination against President Joe Biden before dropping the party label and becoming an independent.

Mr Biden and former President Donald Trump have now officially clinched enough delegates to secure their respective nominations ahead of the November election when third-party candidates may play a pivotal role in a race expected to be tight.

Both Mr Ventura and Mr Rodgers have reacted positively to Mr Kennedy reaching out, according to The New York Times.

Mr Rodgers is an NFL quarterback and anti-vaxxer, while Mr Ventura is a former professional wrestler who later served as the mayor of Brooklyn Park north of Minneapolis between 1991 and 1995 and subsequently as the governor of Minnesota between 1999 and 2003, running under the Reform Party banner. He left the Reform Party in 2000.

On Tuesday, Mr Kennedy confirmed that the two men topped his list of possible running mates for his independent presidential campaign. But Mr Kennedy may still be considering other options and it remains unclear if anyone has been offered the running mate slot.

Aaron Rodgers, Robert F Kennedy Jr, and Jesse Ventura

Mr Kennedy said that he’s been speaking with Mr Rodgers, who’s expected to play for the New York Jets this autumn, on repeated occasions, adding that he’s been in contact with Mr Ventura, 72, since he introduced Mr Kennedy at an event in Arizona in February.

Mr Ventura’s son, Tyrel Ventura, told The New York Times in an email: “No one has officially asked Gov. Ventura to be a