Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attends a press conference in the Brooklyn borough of New York, on May 1, 2024. Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed to qualify for the first presidential debate hosted by CNN next week, officially setting up a one-on-one clash between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Last month, Kennedy's campaign filed a Federal Election Commission complaint against CNN and the Biden and Trump campaigns, alleging the way they set up the June 27 presidential debate was illegal. Kennedy still has a chance to qualify for the Sept. 10 debate, hosted by ABC News. That debate has the same ballot access and polling criteria as CNN's, although it's unclear when the polling window will open.

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Persons: Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Kennedy, Kennedy hadn't, Kennedy's, Stefanie Spear Organizations: CNN, Biden, Trump, NBC, ABC News Locations: Brooklyn, New York, Atlanta