WASHINGTON — Independent US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr is unlikely to participate in 2024’s first US presidential debate after missing a deadline to meet criteria set by hosting news organisation CNN.
CNN, host of the June 27 debate, previously said only President Joe Biden and Republican rival Donald Trump had met its conditions to take part ahead of a 12am Thursday deadline.
The conditions included appearing on enough state ballots to potentially win the presidency and also garnering at least 15 per cent voter support in four separate national polls.
Kennedy had received at least 15 per cent in only three accepted polls to date and, by CNN’s tally, had qualified for the ballot in just six states. That would not be enough to win the presidency.
Neither CNN, a division of Warner Bros Discovery, nor Kennedy’s campaign were immediately available for comment.
The Kennedy campaign asked that the Federal Election Commission take action by Thursday and keep CNN, Biden and Trump from holding the June 27 debate unless it makes changes. The FEC declined to comment.
