Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not meet the requirements to participate in the upcoming CNN presidential debate on June 27. This means he will not have the chance to face off against President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump on the national stage.
Qualifying for this debate would have been a significant opportunity for Kennedy’s independent presidential campaign. The debate is expected to draw a large national audience, with millions of viewers tuning in to watch the candidates discuss important issues.
It’s worth noting that third-party or independent candidates have not been included in national debates since 1992, when Ross Perot participated alongside President George Bush and Gov. Bill Clinton. Kennedy’s failure to meet the criteria has sparked accusations of collusion between CNN, Biden, and Trump to keep him out of the debate.
Kennedy needed to achieve at least 15 percent support in four approved national polls to qualify for the debate. Unfortunately, he only met this requirement in three of the approved polls by the deadline.
The exclusion of Kennedy from the debate stage has raised concerns among both the Biden and Trump campaigns. They fear that Kennedy’s presence could potentially sway the election in key battleground states by drawing support away from both candidates.
Despite his efforts to meet the criteria, Kennedy’s absence from the CNN debate is a setback for his campaign. It remains to be seen how this development will impact the upcoming election and the overall political landscape.