After Trump-Biden debate debacle, what happens to RFK Jr.?

One caused despair and panic, the other had relentless attacks and falsehoods. The reviews are in, the critics have spoken, and it’s clear that Americans did not like what they saw during the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. 

“Both these men should be using performance enhancing drugs,” comedian John Stewart said on “The Daily Show” after the debate was over. 

There was another event on Thursday, June 27, that received less attention.

Robert F Kennedy Jr. hosted what he called “The Real Debate” on X. He live streamed the CNN debate and paused it to answer the same questions that major party candidates were asked. Millions of users watched his stream. 

“I think abortion should be the choice of a woman and I worry about state involvement until the baby reaches viability,” Kennedy said on the topic of abortion. “And then I think the states have an increasing, viability, outside the womb, I think the states have an increasing interest in protecting that child.”

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Kennedy also spoke on immigration. 

“President Biden, when he became president, ordered a stop on the construction of the wall,” he said. “That’s the problem.”

Additionally, Kennedy addressed foreign policy like the war in Ukraine.

“The two of them are equally culpable in the provocations that led to this war. And I’m not excusing Putin,” Kennedy said. “Putin didn’t need to go into Ukraine and he should be held responsible too.” 

Kennedy did not qualify for the CNN debate because he failed to reach the polling requirements or qualify for the ballot in enough states to have a chance at winning. 

So what’s his path forward now? 

RFK Jr. is on the ballot in 24 states, making him eligible for 348 electoral votes. He has submitted the necessary paperwork in Nevada and is working to meet the requirements in 25 other states and the District of Columbia. 

According to the RealClearPolitics average, Kennedy is polling at about 7.5% compared to Trump and Biden who are at 42% and 39%, respectively.

The next debate is hosted by ABC News on Sept. 10. It is possible that by then, Kennedy has qualified for the ballot in a sufficient number of states and increased his poll numbers to earn a spot on the stage.