Following accusations of collusion to exclude him from presidential debates, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) has come under fire from former President Donald Trump. RFK Jr. labeled Trump and President Joe Biden as ‘giant cowards’ for allegedly working together to prevent his participation.
In response, Trump has stated that RFK Jr.’s mere name is insufficient to qualify him for a spot on the debate stage. He highlighted RFK Jr.’s low polling numbers and perceived downward trajectory as reasons for his exclusion. CNN, the organizer of one of the debates, has outlined specific criteria that candidates must meet to participate. This includes achieving a certain number of electoral votes and securing a minimum level of support in national polls.
RFK Jr. has claimed that his campaign has gathered sufficient signatures to appear on the ballot in multiple states, including Texas. He has expressed outrage over being excluded from the debates, asserting that the decision is an attempt to prevent him from winning. RFK Jr. believes that excluding viable candidates from the debates undermines democracy.
Despite trailing in overall polls, RFK Jr. has the potential to draw votes away from Trump and Biden. He is an anti-vaccine advocate and environmentalist running as an independent after initially challenging Biden for the Democratic nomination. RFK Jr.’s running mate is lawyer Nicole Shanahan.
It is important to note that RFK Jr. is the son of the late US Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 during his presidential campaign. Despite this connection, RFK Jr.’s family has publicly supported Biden. The ongoing debate over debate participation criteria and candidate inclusion is likely to continue as the presidential election approaches.
