AMNA NAWAZ: This election season, we have seen a handful of outsiders seeking to challenge President Biden and his likely opponent, former President Donald Trump, as third-party or independent candidates.

One is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., son of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and a longtime environmental lawyer.

A recent national poll shows, in a three-way matchup with Biden and Trump, Kennedy has support from 22 percent of registered voters.

I sat down with him earlier this week to discuss his campaign, and I asked him why he thinks he's connecting with voters.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., Presidential Candidate: I think people are ready to -- people are tired of the vitriol.

They're tired of the polarization.

We have made a big effort at trying to talk about issues, about the values that Americans hold in common, rather than the culture war issues that drive everybody apart.

I have been focused on being civil, but I think, most important, people really want to hear the truth, and they want to hear the truth about a lot of different issues, and they feel -- Americans feel that they're being lied to by the media, by government agencies that are supposed to be honest with the American people.

And they're feeling that the system is rigged against them, that the middle class is disintegrating in this country, and that nobody is hearing them, that they're not that -- that the government and the system are rigged against them.

AMNA NAWAZ: How do you translate that polling support, which is, to be clear, a year out, right -- a lot can happen in the next year.

How do you translate that into electoral support, though?

I mean, because independent campaigns, especially ones as large as yours, they have faced legal challenges in the past, external pressure.

You look at Ralph Nader in 2004.

What's your path to 270?

Are you targeting specific states, for example?

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: Yes, we're targeting specific states.

And you're right.

AMNA NAWAZ: Which states are you targeting?

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: We're targeting -- I mean, all of the traditional battleground states are states that we think we can do really well in.

All I need to do... AMNA NAWAZ: But you're talking Wisconsin, Pennsylvania?

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: Yes.

AMNA NAWAZ: Yes.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: And all I need to do in those states, Arizona... AMNA NAWAZ: Arizona.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: ... Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, all I need to do in those states is get 34 percent of the vote, and I can walk away with 270 electors, because it's a -- the electors are winner-take-all, and it's signed by plurality, rather than majority.

AMNA NAWAZ: But are you near 34 in any of those states?

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: Well, I'm at 22 now, a year out.

Nobody's ever been that.

AMNA NAWAZ: That is nationally, though, right?

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: Nationally, nobody has ever been in -- that I know of in our history has ever been, except for George Washington, who was the last independent president, has ever been this high in the polls this far out, and among -- particularly among key constituencies, young people and independents.

So I don't know what will happen.

And I'm not a good spin person, but I feel pretty good about where I am today.

I think I'd rather be in my position than I would in President Trump's position or President Biden.

AMNA NAWAZ: Can I ask you another question about your candidacy?

Because a number of your own family members have spoken out against it.

Four of your siblings issued a statement denouncing your candidacy, saying it's dangerous for the country.

They wrote in a statement: "Bobby might share the same name as our father.

He doesn't share the same values, vision or judgment."

Your family are icons of the Democratic Party.

They do not typically speak out against their own, but they are in this case.

Why?

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: Well, I have 105 family members, living family members.

AMNA NAWAZ: But these are your siblings.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: And a lot of them are supporting me.

But let me ask you this.

Does your family always agree with everything that you do?

AMNA NAWAZ: They don't always agree with me, but I think they would vote for me if I ran for president.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: Well, a lot of them are going to vote for me, but not all of them.

AMNA NAWAZ: Your siblings, though... (CROSSTALK) AMNA NAWAZ: ... who know you better.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: Listen, my family has a long history with President Biden.

There's five members of my family that are working for the administration.

And President Biden has a statue, a bust of my father behind him at the Oval Office.

We have known -- I have known President Biden virtually my entire life.

All the people in my family or many of the people, including all the people that you mentioned there, the four members of my family you mentioned there, have strong, long friendships with President Biden.

And I understand that they're disappointed with the fact that I would run against him, but... AMNA NAWAZ: They're more than disappointed, sir.

They're saying that it's dangerous for the country.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: Well, you would have to ask them.

Why don't you have them on this show, and you can ask them why they said that.

My understanding is that -- and this is, I think, one of the problems is with the Democratic Party right now -- is that nobody is saying about President Biden that we want him for president because he is going to give us a vigorous leadership, that he has the energy, that he has the cognitive ability, that he has the vision to inspire Americans.

Instead, what they're saying is, you have got to vote for him, despite all of the defects that are clear to everybody, because, if you don't vote for him, somebody worse is going to get in there.

And that's what they mean by the word dangerous.

I think that the Democratic Party has to offer Americans a better, more positive vision for this country than just, do what we say, or President Trump is going to endanger our democracy.

We should be able to do more than that.

We should be able to inspire people.

And I think that's why so many young people and independents are supporting me, because they're tired of the fear tactics.

They're tired of being manipulated through orchestrated fear.

And they want something to inspire them.

(CROSSTALK) AMNA NAWAZ: Let me ask you, if I may, let me ask you about a specific concern your family has expressed in the past, which is your controversial views on vaccines and being part of the anti-vaccine movement.

(CROSSTALK) ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: Well, what are my views on vaccines?

AMNA NAWAZ: Well, you have said previously that no vaccine is safe or effective, which is... (CROSSTALK) ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: I have never said that.

AMNA NAWAZ: You did say that in a podcast interview in July.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: No, I never said that.

AMNA NAWAZ: You did say that.

There are quotes, and that recording is there.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: You are wrong.

And you're making something up.

AMNA NAWAZ: On FOX News, you said that you still believe in this idea that vaccines can cause autism, which has long been debunked.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: But now you're changing the subject.

What you said was a lie.

AMNA NAWAZ: No, sir.

I'm asking about your views on vaccines.

(CROSSTALK) ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: And what I -- well, that's why I'm happy to say that my views are that vaccines should be tested, like all other medications are tested.

They should have placebo-controlled trials prior to licensure.

It's the only medical product, the only medical product or medical device that is allowed to get a license without engaging in safety tests.

AMNA NAWAZ: So you do not believe the statement that no vaccine is safe and effective?

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: I never said that.

AMNA NAWAZ: According to these reports and the recordings, you have, in a podcast interview in July.

(CROSSTALK) ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: That's the problem.

If you are reading reports about me in the mainstream media, including this network, they're almost all inaccurate.

I'm not anti-vax.

I have never been anti-vax.

AMNA NAWAZ: You just spoke before one of the largest anti-vaccine groups in the country a few days ago.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: That's not what they call themselves.

AMNA NAWAZ: That's not what they call themselves, but that's what they advocate for.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: Oh, you know what?

I speak to a lot of people, and I don't agree and I don't pretend to agree with everything that everybody in the audience says.

AMNA NAWAZ: Can I ask you very... ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: I can agree -- I have said from the beginning -- listen, I fought against mercury in fish for 40 years.

Nobody called me anti-fish.

I fought -- I like the idea that we have seat belts in cars.

Nobody calls me anti-automobile.

I want vaccines that are safe, just like every other medicine, and that are adequately tested.

It doesn't mean I'm anti-vaccine.

It just means that I'm sensible.

And I have gotten the sense, I think, that most Americans, if they understood my views, my real views, rather than the distortions of my views and the mischaracterizations that they hear from the mainstream media, including this network, that they would agree with me.

AMNA NAWAZ: I will just say, there's evidence of these statements on the record.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: Show me a statement, not evidence of a statement.

AMNA NAWAZ: I will be happy to.

Let me ask you about... ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: Show me a statement, rather than evidence, what you call it evidence of a statement.

AMNA NAWAZ: Let me ask you more broadly about 2024 and where we are right now, a year away from the date people will cast ballots.

We know, in their respective parties, Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden are still leading by wide margins, regardless of how high you are polling, right?

The latest numbers from Quinnipiac show 64 percent of Republican and leaning voters supporting Mr. Trump, 77 percent of Democrats and Dem-leaning voters supporting Mr. Biden.

If those numbers do not shift, how do you decide if and when you should end your candidacy?

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: I have no intention of ending my candidacy.

I have an intention to win.

I'm way ahead of any independent candidate in history right now, and I intend to win the election.

AMNA NAWAZ: Robert F. Kennedy, candidate for president, as an independent candidate, we thank you for coming by.

I appreciate you being here.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: Thank you for having me, Amna.

AMNA NAWAZ: And you can watch more of our interview with Mr. Kennedy on our Web site, including questions on immigration and abortion.