Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Fails To Qualify For CNN Presidential Debate

CNN has confirmed that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has failed to qualify for the first presidential debate on June 27. Although it is unclear whether RFK's candidacy would siphon more votes from Biden or Trump, both candidates will welcome RFK's absence from the stage.

• RFK's exclusion from the debate was widely expected as he had failed to meet either of the two criteria set by CNN: Hitting 15% vote-share in four high quality national polls and gaining ballot access in enough states to hypothetically win 270 electoral voters, the minimum to win the presidency.
• NYT notes: "More than 73 million people watched the first debate between Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump in 2020, and Mr. Kennedy would have had the opportunity to confront his opponents in front of an extensive national audience."
• Four recent polls through up different results when RFK is added to the ballot: Fox News and Marist finds RFK's inclusion nets Trump 1 point, Ipsos finds no change in the net vote share, and NBC poll finds that RFK's inclusion sees a four-point swing to Biden.