- CBS News
United States – Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. named Silicon Valley attorney and entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan as his vice presidential pick at a campaign rally on Tuesday in her hometown of Oakland, California.
The 38-year-old, first-time candidate enters the race largely unknown to the public outside of tech circles but was an early supporter of Kennedy's presidential bid, backing him last year while he was still running in the Democratic primary.
Kennedy's campaign is hoping Shanahan's youth and fluency in the tech world's anti-establishment rhetoric will help him expand and excite his base of support.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr, keponakan mantan Presiden AS John F Kennedy maju capres
- AP Photo/Hans Pennink
Though Shanahan has been more cautious in her statements about vaccines than Kennedy, a leading skeptic, she has repeatedly questioned their safety.
The deep-pocketed investor could also provide a financial boost to backstop Kennedy's expensive campaign and its attempt to get on the presidential ballot in all 50 states.
Robert Fico
- AP Photo
That effort has been stunted by requirements in certain states that candidates file alongside a running mate.
An Oakland native, Shanahan was raised by a father diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and a mother who immigrated to the US from China, according to People magazine.
Her family relied on welfare growing up and struggled to make ends meet, the publication reported.
"I had a very hard childhood with a lot of sadness, fear and instability. At times there was violence," Shanahan remarked, as quoted from Abcnews site.
Shanahan, who was previously married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, told The New York Times last month that she gave $4 million to a pro-Kennedy super PAC to help pay for an ad, which she assisted in producing, that ran during this year's Super Bowl.
The spot repurposed video from the 1960 presidential campaign of Kennedy's uncle, John F. Kennedy, and drew criticism from several Kennedy family members.
Before aligning with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Shanahan contributed to Democratic campaigns.
She gave $25,000 to President Joe Biden's joint fundraising committee in 2020, according to federal campaign finance records and labeled herself "a lifelong Democrat" in an interview this year.
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