Kennedy’s campaign strategy is to secure a place on the ballot in states with at least 270 electoral votes, the minimum needed to become president. However, as of now, at least 10 states have not certified his candidacy, raising doubts about his ability to qualify for the upcoming CNN debate. Despite submitting 3,300 signatures in Minnesota and listing 19 states with 278 electoral votes where he claims ballot access, many states have not verified his submission. Kennedy filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, accusing CNN of colluding with Biden and Trump to exclude him from the debate.
In addition to the ballot access challenge, Kennedy has also not met the debate’s requirement to get at least 15% in four reputable polls. This poses another obstacle to his participation in the CNN debate and raises concerns about his viability as an independent candidate in the 2024 election. Biden and Trump have both agreed to the CNN debate and a second one on Sept. 10 hosted by ABC, bypassing the nonpartisan commission that has traditionally organized debates for presidential candidates.
Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist, initially ran as a Democratic primary challenger to Biden but later switched to an independent campaign. One of the major hurdles he faces is the expensive and time-consuming process of securing ballot access state by state, which involves collecting millions of signatures that must be verified by election officials. Despite these challenges, Kennedy has built a loyal following among individuals disaffected by American institutions, which could have an unpredictable impact on the election.
Kennedy’s supporters come from a diverse range of ideological backgrounds and share a skepticism towards government, corporations, and the media. This eclectic group of supporters could potentially sway the outcome of the election, with Biden and Trump both concerned about losing votes to Kennedy. The independent candidate’s unconventional campaign has garnered attention and raised questions about the political landscape in the upcoming election. As the race heats up and the deadline for ballot access approaches, Kennedy’s ability to compete against the two major party candidates remains uncertain.
