A new poll indicates that a majority of American voters would like to see long-shot presidential candidates, such as independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., share the debate stage with major party nominees President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Kennedy, who is the son of former Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, has gained enough support to be on the ballot in key battleground states. He originally intended to challenge Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination before switching to an independent in October 2023 and selecting Nicole Shanahan as his running mate.
Despite critics dismissing Kennedy’s campaign as a potential spoiler in the race, political analysts believe his impact could go both ways. Some argue that Kennedy has the potential to take away votes from Trump as well as Biden. A recent Harvard CAPS/Harris survey found that 71 percent of Americans think that presidential debates should include independent or third-party candidates who clear a viable threshold, such as Kennedy. However, it remains to be seen whether Kennedy will participate in the upcoming presidential debates alongside Biden and Trump, as the networks hosting the debates have specific criteria that candidates must meet to be eligible.
Biden and Trump have already agreed to a pair of debates, set for June and September, as they prepare for the likely rematch in November. CNN and ABC will host the debates, but it is uncertain whether Kennedy will be included as a participant. CNN has set criteria for candidates to qualify for the June debate, which includes appearing on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the electoral vote threshold and receiving at least 15 percent in four separate national polls. Kennedy claims that he will meet the criteria for the June debate and is eager to hold Biden and Trump accountable for their records.
Kennedy rose to prominence in recent years for his vocal stance against vaccines, which has garnered him both support and criticism. Despite his unconventional political background, Kennedy has managed to attract enough attention to be a potential participant in the upcoming presidential debates. With the majority of American voters expressing a desire to see independent or third-party candidates like Kennedy included in the debates, it will be interesting to see if he is able to meet the criteria set by the networks and join Biden and Trump on the debate stage.
Overall, the prospect of including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the presidential debates alongside Biden and Trump has generated interest among the American electorate. With Kennedy’s unique background and viewpoints, his participation could add a different dynamic to the discussions and offer voters more choices when it comes to deciding who to support in the upcoming election. As the race for the presidency heats up, all eyes will be on whether Kennedy is able to qualify for the debates and make his mark on the campaign trail.
