Kennedy, Stein Fail to Qualify for CNN Debate

CNN confirmed Thursday that its presidential debate next week will go forward with just Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.

The qualification window for the debate closed at midnight Thursday, and independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Jill Stein of the Green Party failed to qualify. Stein was never close to qualifying and Kennedy fell short of qualifying by the deadline, CNN said. 

Kennedy needed 15% support in four approved national polls; he had three. Second, he needed to be on the ballot in enough states to win 270 votes in the Electoral College; he's on enough to reach 40 electoral votes, according to Decision Desk HQ. New York Times analysis has him at 89, still well short of the qualifying number.