Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has officially filed paperwork in Pennsylvania to secure a spot on the ballot for the upcoming presidential election in November. This move comes well in advance of the August 1 deadline, as confirmed by the Pennsylvania elections office.
Pennsylvania, known as a crucial battleground state in the 2024 presidential election, could see Kennedy's entry potentially complicating the campaigns of President Biden and former President Donald Trump. National polls indicate that Kennedy has been able to maintain support levels around 10%, with some polls even showing numbers as high as 15%.
Political strategists are actively debating the impact of Kennedy's unexpected popularity among citizens disenchanted with the traditional Democratic and Republican parties. There is speculation on whether his independent run might draw votes away from either Trump or Biden, potentially influencing the outcome in closely contested states where the two major party candidates are closely matched.
Despite his growing support, Kennedy did not meet the requirements to participate in the first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle, as he was only able to demonstrate the necessary 15% support in three separate national polls. Additionally, reports indicate that Kennedy has not qualified for the ballot in enough states to reach the 270 electoral college votes threshold.
While Kennedy claims to have fulfilled the requirements to appear on the ballot in 22 different states, not all states have publicly confirmed this information. In response to his exclusion from the debate stage, Kennedy criticized Presidents Biden and Trump, calling their actions undemocratic, un-American, and cowardly.
