Staff Reports
Independent Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. won’t be making it to the debate stage next week with President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in Atlanta, Georgia, according to reports. The reason? Kennedy has fallen short of CNN’s ballot access requirement, a standard he must meet by Thursday to join the June 27 debate.
CNN’s rule states that candidates must be on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold required to win the presidency. Despite his efforts, Kennedy is currently only eligible for 100 electoral votes, a far cry from what he needs. Even though his campaign claims to have completed petitioning in around two dozen states, official certification has only been granted in five states so far, casting doubt on his ability to meet CNN’s criteria.
Report: RFK Jr. to Fall Short of CNN Debate Requirement https://t.co/zYv37oTeem via @BreitbartNews
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What a shock! They are terrified of @RobertKennedyJr winning. #TheDemocratPartyHatesAmerica— Graci Rose (@GraciRose3) June 20, 2024
The Kennedy campaign’s online tracker boasts progress, but the reality is that many election officials are hesitant to approve petitions or minor party nominees, leaving Kennedy in a tight spot with the looming debate deadline. While his campaign optimistically declares “We’re on the ballot” in certain states, the certification process is far from over in crucial areas like New York, where it’s labeled as “premature.”
On the contrary, both Trump and Biden have secured their spots on the debate stage, meeting the ballot access requirement with ease as their parties’ presumptive nominees. Trump has even extended a welcoming hand to Kennedy, showing no fear of facing off against the independent candidate in a debate.
For Kennedy to have a chance at qualifying, he must also achieve at least 15 percent in a set of polls recognized by CNN, adding another obstacle to his already steep climb to the debate stage. With time running out and hurdles piling up, it looks like Kennedy’s debate dreams may remain just that – a dream.
