Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Unlikely To Make First Presidential Debate Stage

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appears unlikely to qualify for the first presidential debate, to be hosted by CNN on June 27, after multiple states declined to confirm his ballot access.

• The deadline to qualify is tomorrow and RFK doesn’t appear to have fulfilled either requirement for making the stage: Reaching a 15% vote-share in four high-quality national polls and gaining ballot access in enough states to add up to 270 electoral college votes – the minimum to win the presidency.
• CNN noted on Saturday: "Though not impossible in Kennedy’s case, it is less likely that candidates other than Biden and Trump will meet those requirements. Kennedy has received at least 15% in three qualifying polls so far and is currently on the ballot in six states, making him currently eligible for 89 Electoral College votes."
• RFK’s campaign will likely accuse states of dragging their feet on verifying the signatures he has submitted for his ballot access, although states are under no legal obligation to complete the process hastily.
• Reuters notes that Kennedy also filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission in May alleging that CNN "illegally" demanded that Kennedy meet "different criteria" to participate in the debate.
• RFK’s absence from the stage will be welcomed by both Biden and Trump although it is unclear from whom he is likely to siphon more votes. The debate will be the first time Trump and Biden have faced-off against each other since the 2020 presidential debates.