NBC News host Chuck Todd says Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “vocal issue” could be an asset for Democrat President Joe Biden on the debate stage.
Kennedy has a neurological condition affecting his voice.
He previously revealed that he underwent surgery which improved his voice somewhat.
However, according to Todd, Kennedy’s “ailment” could “weirdly help” offset Biden’s weakness during a debate.
Todd argues that RFK Jr.’s “vocal issue” would make Biden look better by comparison.
“If you’ve ever spent a lot of time watching Robert Kennedy Jr. speak, I think if you were Joe Biden, you are going to want him on the debate stage,” Todd said on Wednesday.
Todd’s remarks came as Biden and President Donald Trump agreed to two debates, as Slay News reported.
For the moment, those debates exclude Kennedy since the independent candidate doesn’t appear on enough state ballots.
As the oldest president in history, questions about Biden’s physical vitality and age have become political sore spots.
However, Todd suggested Kennedy’s unusual manner of speaking could form a helpful contrast with Biden.
“I think there will be a point in the fall that they will actually see that as an asset,” Todd said, referring to the Biden campaign.
“I’m in the minority in this,” Todd said.
Kennedy has a uniquely hoarse and gravelly voice.
It is due to a rare neurological condition called spasmodic dysphonia that affects vocal muscles.
“Let’s just face it, he has a vocal issue,” NBC host Andrea Mitchell told Todd during the discussion.
“It’s an ailment,” Mitchell added, acknowledging what Todd was referring to.
Todd argued that Kennedy’s vocal condition might “weirdly help” offset Biden’s personal weaknesses as a candidate.
He predicted that Kennedy may be present at the second debate.
“I don’t think a lot of people realize this about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,” Todd said.
“It will be interesting.
“I’m not ruling out the possibility that he makes it to the second debate.”
WATCH:
Biden and Trump on Wednesday morning agreed to two debates.
The debates are to be held on Biden’s choices of Democrat-friendly networks.
The democrat president also provided a list of guardrails that Trump must agree to, including no live audiences.
The first debate is on June 27, hosted by CNN, and the second on Sept. 10, hosted by ABC.
The Biden-Harris campaign demanded that the debates occur inside a TV studio, with microphones that automatically cut off when a speaker’s time limit elapses.
Kennedy’s health has become a center of media controversy after a years-old deposition was exposed, showing that the candidate had previously claimed that a parasitic worm had eaten part of his brain before dying in his skull.
Kennedy made the claim during a deposition that took place as part of his 2012 divorce proceedings.
He said he had been experiencing “cognitive problems” and feared he was suffering from a brain tumor.
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