Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed to qualify for the CNN presidential debate on June 27 by the network’s Thursday deadline, according to the outlet, a significant blow to his independent presidential bid that will deny him a coveted national stage alongside President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump. Qualifying for the CNN debate, one of two presidential debates scheduled before Election Day, would have been a plum prize for the Kennedy campaign. More than 73 million people watched the first debate between Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump in 2020, and Mr. Kennedy would have had the opportunity to confront his opponents in front of an extensive national audience. But Mr. Kennedy failed to meet two criteria. In the face of mounting challenges before the deadline, Mr. Kennedy had accused CNN of colluding with the Biden and Trump campaigns to exclude him from the debate, and filed a complaint to the Federal Election Commission accusing the network of violating campaign finance law.

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Persons: Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Biden, Donald J, Kennedy, Trump, Ross Perot’s, George Bush, Bill Clinton of Organizations: CNN, Trump, Gov, Biden, Federal Locations: Texas, Bill Clinton of Arkansas