“Could It Be That Polls Are Wildly Inaccurate”: Recent Polls Show Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Edging Toward Presidential Debate Qualification

Amy LewisDec 1, 2023

Minute Read

The Commission on Presidential Debates announced the dates and requirements needed for participation. For the first time in over thirty years, an independent presidential candidate, Robert F. Kennedy, could be involved in the debate.

Debate Schedule

The Commission on Presidential Debates released the dates and locations for the 2024 debate cycle on Monday, along with the necessary prerequisite that each candidate for president and vice president must receive at least 15% in national polling.

When and Where

The debates are set to be held across September and October 2024, at universities in Texas, Petersburg and Utah. A vice president debate has also been announced to take place in September at Lafayette College in Easton, PA.

RFK Jr. Could Make History

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Ten months ahead of the debates, environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could become the first independent candidate in over thirty years to take part in the debates.

An Independent Bid

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The last third-party candidate to participate in the general election debates was Ross Perot, a business magnate who unsuccessfully ran for the presidency in 1992.

Another Kennedy at Work

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RFK Jr. filed for candidacy for the presidency as a Democrat in April of this year but later announced that he would instead be running as an independent. As the nephew of JFK, RFK Jr. would be the fifth member of the Kennedy family to make a bid for the presidency.

Kennedy’s Beliefs

Kennedy first made waves during the COVID-19 pandemic when he overtly condemned the vaccine: “There’s no vaccine that is safe and effective.” He has since stuck by his vaccine stance and is infamous for spreading vaccine misinformation.

RFK Jr.’s Chances Look Promising

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So far, RFK Jr.’s bid for candidacy could see him above the qualifying margin for the debates, as recent polling data released by RealClearPolitics puts Kennedy at an average of 16.7%.

A Long Road Ahead

However, with ten months still to go until the first debate takes place, this data does not necessarily constitute a success for Kennedy just yet. The CPD will determine which candidates have qualified closer to the time after consulting with experts on the data.

Trump Looking Forward To Debating “Crooked Joe Biden”

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After some heated debates in the last presidential election cycle, both President Biden and former President Donald Trump have not made it clear that they will participate in the debates. However, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign told the New York Post: “President Trump very much looks forward to debating Crooked Joe Biden in the general election, but it remains to be seen if Biden will show up.”

Kennedy a “Paid GOP Plant”

With the news of Kennedy’s potential qualification for the debate stage, the internet has been quick to make its skepticism of his affiliations known. One person accused: “RFK Jr. is not an independent, he is a paid GOP plant to siphon votes away from Biden, unfortunately for the GOP he may also end up siphoning votes from traitor Trump.”

Debate Format Needs To Evolve

Another person commented on the Post’s article, attesting that the entire format of the debates needs to change: “We should ban all political advertisements and hold one debate each week on specific issues until the election.”

“A Unique Perspective”

One person seemed to defend Kennedy, writing: “I’m interested in RFKJr’s input in the debates. He has a unique perspective, and it scares the party cronies.”

Better Than Blue

Another user also suggested that they’d be willing to give Kennedy a chance after their disappointment with the Biden administration: “I definitely will give a listen to what he has to say. When I was younger I wasn’t red or blue, I voted for who I thought would do a great job. Lately, the blue has turned me off so much I kinda vowed to never vote blue again. I live in California and the blue has done nothing short of destroying this beautiful state.”

RFK Jr.’s “Ludicrous” Views Will “Reflect” in His Performance

Whilst some people have expressed concern, others believe nothing will come of RFK Jr.’s bid for candidacy: “It’s pretty much a historical trope at this point that third party/no-party candidates poll well until just before the election, and then their support collapses because reasons. I do not expect this to be any different. RFK has taken positions that are ludicrous to the average voter, and I expect his performance to reflect that.”

The Media’s Agenda

The validity of the polls was also called into question, with one user asking: “Could it be that polls are wildly inaccurate and some people are influenced by the media shoving the ones that match their narrative?”

Kennedy vs. The Vaccine

One person expressed their disbelief over RFK Jr.’s possible qualification for the debates: “I can’t believe his campaign wasn’t over when the video of him saying Covid doesn’t target Jews and Asians leaked.” Another user offered a succinct explanation: “He’s primarily drawing support from Trump Republicans.”

RFK Jr.’s “Hours of Nuttery”

Another person asserted: “No one’s paying attention to him. There are literally hours of his nuttery that most of the public doesn’t know about and the media hasn’t made him speak about it.”

“An Orange Stained Trust Fund Nepo-Baby”

One user had strong words for RFK Jr., condemning him as “an orange stained trust fund nepo-baby with a famous daddy but zero personal talent.” They continued: “I suspect RFK is highly popular with the Fox Entertainment crowd. Also, this guy walks around barefoot in public toilets-he is some form humanoid hepatitis with hotdog skin.”