Breaking! Robert Kennedy Jr. Fails to Qualify for CNN Debate

The New York Times ^ | June 20, 2024 | Chris Cameron

[Macho MAGA Man]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not meet the criteria to make the debate stage next week, according to the outlet, denying him the opportunity to confront President Biden and Donald J. Trump.

.........................

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed to qualify for the CNN presidential debate on June 27 by the network’s Thursday deadline, according to the outlet, a significant blow to his independent presidential bid that will deny him a coveted national stage alongside President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump.

Mr. Kennedy in a statement on Thursday called his exclusion from the debate “undemocratic, un-American and cowardly.”

Qualifying for the CNN debate, one of two presidential debates scheduled before Election Day, would have been a plum prize for the Kennedy campaign. 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.

No third-party or independent presidential candidate has been on the national debate stage since 1992, when the Texas billionaire Ross Perot’s self-funded campaign gained enough momentum to earn him a spot alongside President George Bush and Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas in three debates in the final weeks before the election.

[MinorityRepublican]

I wonder if Trump could bring RFK along anyway, make a scene when the debate starts about how a robust debate is necessary for our Republic, and then let RFK take his place on principle. It would invalidate all of PedoJoe’s debate prep, and all the gotcha questions prepped by the moderator.

💯

[Eleutheria5]

Let’s pretend we’re all democracies, shall we? Wouldn’t it be fun.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Proof POSITIVE that RFK Jr. would be taking votes away from Brandon.

Smooth, CNN. Real smooth. NO ONE will notice this. *SNORT*

[metmom]

Mr. Kennedy in a statement on Thursday called his exclusion from the debate “undemocratic, un-American and cowardly.”

He's right, but it shows how desperate the democrats are and they know what a threat Kennedy is to their party.

[clearcarbon]

"Breaking! Robert Kennedy Jr. Fails to Qualify for CNN Debate"

I was looking forward to seeing biden address Trump as "bobby."

[FormerFRLurker]

What a shame. He was the only candidate willing to stand up to Fauxci and Big Pharma.

[SaveFerris]

[What a surprise.]

Yep, RFK, Jr. Liberal that he is, will do TREMENDOUS DAMAGE to Joe Biden in a debate, drawing away a significant number of Democrats

[nathanbedford]

Kennedy represents a real threat to Trump's winning battleground states because Kennedy campaigns to the right of Trump on several issues. Granted, Kennedy is a reliable leftist on most issues.

Kennedy asserts that he has a poll of 26,000 respondents showing that on a one-to-one campaign he would swamp Biden and edge out Trump for the election. Without commenting on the reliability of the poll, it indicates that Kennedy probably has the power to draw enough votes away in close swing states from Trump to cost us the election against Biden.

It would not be hard for Kennedy to look more presidential than Biden on the stage and the debate could then resolve itself into a debate between two men in the eyes of the public both worthy of the office, Kennedy and Trump.

There always exists the possibility, however remote, that the Democrats, acting out of desperation over Biden's performance and his forlorn hope in the election, actually run Robert Kennedy against Trump and that might proof a real squeaker.

I for one am glad Kennedy has been excluded, however unfairly.

[WeaslesRippedMyFlesh]

The left needed Kennedy on that stage to answer for Biden.

Now it’s angry talking points criminal vs. DJT.

Only way to save Biden is to repeat “convicted felon” and cut Trumps mic, so that’s what they’ll do.

[libertylover]

OK. Great. Usually, the rules used have to do with how the candidate is doing in the poles, but it’s hard to do well in the polls if their views are not known.

[erlayman]

The numbers are not the problem. He has the poll numbers (at least in the ones that even list his name). The issue is that CNN promised Biden RFK Jr wouldn’t be there which was the only reason the president was able to accept. Kennedy is going to do very well and probably even better with these ridiculous short sighted maneuvers from the two other candidates.

[gibsonguy]

Your response illustrates how difficult it is to gage RFK’s impact. My fear was the Libertarians making him their candidate. My hope was he would run for the Greens, which is where he really belongs.
I have not seen you post recently, l hope you are well.

[catnipman]

“Usually, the rules used have to do with how the candidate is doing in the poles, but it’s hard to do well in the polls if their views are not known.”

regarding the above, those who sponsor the debates make up their own rules in the first place ... if candidates don’t like the rules, then they simply don’t attend, like Trump has done in the past ...

in the case of the 2024 Presidential debates, the Commission on Presidential Debates was bypassed, with the GOP and Dem candidates and the network debate sponsors directly calling the shots without outside interference, with Biden pretty calling most of those shots, which isn’t atypical for the incumbent ...

[gibsonguy]

“the president was able to accept”

The fact that refer to Traitor Joe the president is s tell l think.

[erlayman]

Kennedy is the only candidate out of the 3 who actually qualifies as per CNN criteria. He has the required four polls above 15% excluding margin of error. He has seven polls including margin of error. He has submitted enough signatures for 310 electoral votes. Biden and Trump are currently not on a single state ballot. They’re not the nominees until the convention.

[bert]

I went to Asheville, NC on Tuesday. Asheville is a deep blue enclave of all the stereotypical leftwing wackos.

I saw a car with a “Kennedy 2024” bumper sticker....... a bumper sticker.

Analysis: Kennedy is a politely PC refuge from having to vote Biden

[Chickensoup]

Analysis: Kennedy is a politely PC refuge from having to vote Biden

.....

I disagree.

Kennedy is the anybody but Biden or Trump candidate.

[erlayman]

There are more than one Kennedy bumper stickers in deep red enclaves as well.

Trump trash talking RFK Jr who would obliterate them both in a debate (among the general public) doesn’t help.

[Maris Crane]

Are you saying that what RFK has to say in his raspy voice...that makes me sick to hear...is going to take on Trump and Biden and....WIN.

The man is repulsive and so are his policies and his demeanor the Kennedys have had their day.

Talk about going BACKWARDS..just listen to him.