<p>Independent candidate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/robert-f-kennedy-jr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a> failed to qualify for the first presidential <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/debates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">debate</a> of the 2024 election cycle that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/cnn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a> set to host in one week.</p>
<p>CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/20/politics/cnn-debate-trump-biden?cid=ios_app" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the qualification window closed after midnight on Thursday, with President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a> and former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> meeting the requirements.</p>
<p>Kennedy did not meet the criteria to appear, a CNN spokesperson <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/rfk-jr-fails-qualify-cnn-debate-biden-trump-rcna157291" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> NBC News. He missed the threshold to qualify in two key areas.</p>
<p>Candidates needed to receive at least 15% in four national polls approved by CNN. Kennedy only earned that percentage in three of the accepted surveys.</p>
<p>In addition, Kennedy is not on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the requisite 270 electoral vote threshold to win the presidency.</p>
<p>Kennedy&#8217;s signature-gathering effort has gained him ballot access in six states as of Thursday, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/20/us/politics/kennedy-qualify-cnn-debate.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> The New York Times, which totals just 89 Electoral College votes.</p>
<p>In a <a href="https://www.kennedy24.com/kennedy_exclusion_cnn_debate_undemocratic_unamerican_cowardly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, Kennedy said his exclusion from the debate is &#8220;undemocratic, un-American, and cowardly.&#8221;</p>
<p>Kennedy filed a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-kennedy-cnn-debate-fec-complaint-1f08f1af8a5201fe78725bd883634dc8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">complaint</a> with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) at the end of last month, accusing CNN of colluding with Biden and Trump to keep him off the debate stage.</p>
<p>The complaint alleged that CNN was making &#8220;prohibited corporate contributions&#8221; to Biden and Trump by demanding Kennedy meet different criteria.</p>
<p>CNN <a href="https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2024/05/29/robert-f--kennedy-jr--campaign-federal-election-commission-complaint-cnn-joe-biden-donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defended</a> its requirements, noting how Trump and Biden meet the ballot access threshold because they are the presumptive nominees of major parties.</p>
<p>The last time a third-party candidate <a href="https://x.com/HowardMortman/status/1803793976475975976" target="_blank" rel="noopener">appeared</a> in a presidential debate was in 1992 when Ross Perot faced off against President George H.W. Bush and Arkansas Democratic Governor Bill Clinton. Clinton won the election but did not receive a mandate.</p>
<p>Kennedy initially ran this cycle as a Democrat but shifted to an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rfk-jr-switches-to-running-for-president-as-an-independent" target="_blank" rel="noopener">independent campaign</a> after criticizing his party for not holding <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rfk-jr-blasts-dnc-in-open-letter-says-party-has-essentially-merged-into-one-unit-with-biden-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">primary debates</a>, among other gripes.</p>
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<p>CNN&#8217;s debate is slated for 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 27. “State of the Union” anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash have been selected as moderators.</p>
<p>It is expected to be a 90-minute event with two commercial breaks during which staff are not allowed to interact with their candidate. There will be no studio audience.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cnn-announces-finalized-rules-for-first-trump-biden-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rules include</a> no props, a coin flip to determine who stands at what podium, and muting each candidate&#8217;s microphone when it is not his turn to speak.</p>
<p>Another presidential debate between Biden and Trump is planned for Tuesday, September 10. ABC News, the host, has <a href="https://abc.com/news/6abdd5ab-5cdc-48c2-8184-8be2f1a532c1/category/1138628#:~:text=To%20qualify%20for%20participation%2C%20candidates,vote%20threshold%20to%20win%20the" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set criteria</a> that match CNN&#8217;s requirements.</p>

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RFK Jr. Fails To Qualify For CNN Presidential Debate

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RFK Jr. Fails To Qualify For CNN Presidential Debate