President Biden and former President Trump have agreed to participate in one-on-one debates, potentially sidelining independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The criteria set by CNN and ABC News could exclude Kennedy from the debates, despite his double-digit polling numbers. Kennedy, the son of Robert F. Kennedy Sr., is seen as a threat by both Biden and Trump, who fear he could play spoiler in the election. Kennedy has met ballot access requirements in several states, but faces challenges in reaching the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win. The campaigns have not commented on Kennedy’s exclusion from the debates, but Biden’s campaign emphasized the president’s interest in one-on-one debates with Trump. Kennedy accused Biden and Trump of colluding to prevent him from participating in the debates, arguing that it undermines democracy. Despite the controversy, Kennedy claimed he will meet the criteria for the first debate on June 27. The debates present risks and opportunities for both candidates, with Biden preferring a more controlled debate format without a live audience to hinder Trump’s communication style. The campaigns view the debates as necessary, especially given Biden and Trump’s ages and the impact of third-party candidates on the polling results.
