PHOENIX (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long argued that the biggest hurdle of his presidential campaign is the perception that independent candidates can’t win. He has looked to the debates as a singular opportunity to stand alongside Joe Biden and Donald Trump in front of a massive audience.
But to make the first debate stage, he’ll have to secure a place on the ballot in at least a dozen more states and improve his showing in national polls in one month.
With a famous name and a loyal base, Kennedy has the potential to do better than any third-party presidential candidate since Ross Perot in the 1990s. Both the Biden and Trump campaigns, who fear he could play spoiler, bypassed the nonpartisan debate commission and agreed to a schedule that leaves Kennedy very little time to qualify for the first debate.
Publicly, Kennedy is expressing confidence that he will make the stage.
Dame Judi Dench's tears as she receives Sycamore Gap tree seedling at Chelsea Flower Show
34th Phoenix Chinese Week Culture and Cuisine Festival held in Arizona
Box office hit sparks boxing frenzy
In pics: sailing race at 19th Asian Games
A warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest was requested. But no decision was made about whether to issue it
Chinese judoka Guo collects bronze on opening day of Hangzhou Asiad
Box office hit sparks boxing frenzy
UNICEF China partners with Special Olympics East Asia to advance inclusion
Analysis: Larson enters conversation with Verstappen as best drivers in the world
Thrifty Asian Games puts spring in the step of rural students
Target starts price war with Walmart by slashing the cost of 5,000 popular items
Zheng Qinwen stopped in U.S. Open quarterfinals, Wang Xinyu into doubles semis