In a new twist to Robert Kennedy, Jr.’s crusade to vanquish “corporate feudalism” and defeat its media henchmen, Mediaite reports that the Kennedy princeling is retreating from the Democratic primary battlefield to raise his banner as an Independent.  A Kennedy campaign insider tells the online news outlet that the life-long Democrat plans to herald his defection, next week, in historic Philadelphia, the birthplace of the First Continental Congress.  According the campaign source, “Bobby feels that the DNC is changing the rules to exclude his candidacy so an independent run is the only way to go.”

When Kennedy launched his presidential bid, in April, the political scion galloped out of the campaign gate with a remarkable 19% of Democratic primary voters eager to join his cause.  Since then, however, his polling numbers have dropped and, with the party eliminating the traditional gauntlet of primary debates, there’s little opportunity for a party challenger to turn the tide.

Democrats worry that, as a third party candidate, Kennedy will lure crucial Democratic voters to join him in his new political home.  Joe Biden might even have to leave his basement. Republicans should worry, too.  The often shirtless,  69-year-old environmental lawyer is just as comfortable tossing out the words, “rigged” and “corrupt” as he is hob-nobbing with Eric Clapton in deep blue Southern California.  There’s room for more than one at the populist table.