Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy failed to qualify for next week's debate in Atlanta, according to host network CNN, falling below benchmarks in both state ballot qualification and in the necessary surveys.
This means that the June 27 confrontation will be solely between the Democratic president, Joe Biden, and the virtual Republican candidate, Donald Trump. This deprives Kennedy of the rare opportunity to be among the frontrunners, in an attempt to lend legitimacy to his unlikely bid and convince potential supporters that he has a chance to succeed.
The Biden and Trump campaign teams fear that Kennedy could prevent one of them from winning, in what is expected to be a close general election.
Under criteria established by CNN, candidates would be invited to participate in the debate if they had secured a place on the ballots of states with at least 270 Electoral College votes, the minimum number needed to win the presidency.
This means that the June 27 confrontation will be solely between the Democratic president, Joe Biden, and the virtual Republican candidate, Donald Trump. This deprives Kennedy of the rare opportunity to be among the frontrunners, in an attempt to lend legitimacy to his unlikely bid and convince potential supporters that he has a chance to succeed.
The Biden and Trump campaign teams fear that Kennedy could prevent one of them from winning, in what is expected to be a close general election.
Under criteria established by CNN, candidates would be invited to participate in the debate if they had secured a place on the ballots of states with at least 270 Electoral College votes, the minimum number needed to win the presidency.
Biden and Trump easily cleared the voting threshold, but will not be certified to appear on the ballot until their parties formally nominate them later this summer. Both have earned enough delegates to secure their nominations.
Kennedy's campaign says he has met the requirements to appear on the ballot in 22 states, with a combined total of 310 electoral votes, although not all have said his name will appear on the list. California, which is the biggest prize on the electoral map, with 54 votes, will not certify any candidate before August 29.
Likewise, the candidates must have reached a 15% voting threshold in four reliable national polls by June 20, another figure that Kennedy failed to reach, according to CNN. According to the network, Kennedy has so far received at least 15% in three qualified polls, and right now, he is on the ballot in six states, currently eligible to win 89 votes in the Electoral College.
Last month, Kennedy filed an election complaint, alleging that CNN colluded with Biden and Trump to exclude him from the June 27 debate, claiming that participation requirements were designed to ensure that only Biden and Trump qualified and saying that he was requires you to meet a higher standard.
CNN said the complaint is without merit. Kennedy's campaign team has not responded to a message sent Thursday seeking his comment on the CNN ad and asking if he plans to take any further action on excluding it.