In a surprising turn of events, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has accused President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump of colluding to exclude him from upcoming debates. Kennedy asserted that Biden and Trump's agreement to participate in debates hosted by CNN and ABC News is an attempt to keep him off the debate stage, fearing his potential success.

Both Biden and Trump confirmed their acceptance of invitations for presidential debates on June 27 and September 10, respectively. However, Kennedy's current standing does not meet CNN's criteria for qualification. Despite this, Kennedy's press secretary, Stefanie Spear, expressed their willingness to participate if Kennedy meets the network's requirements.

Kennedy voiced his concerns in a passionate post on Wednesday, alleging that Biden and Trump are conspiring to engage in a head-to-head match that a significant majority of Americans do not desire. He further emphasized that excluding viable candidates from debates undermines the essence of democracy.

Interestingly, Kennedy has already reached the 15% polling threshold set by CNN in two out of four qualifying polls. However, the network has added an additional criterion, stating that participants must be listed on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold. Kennedy's campaign manager, Amaryllis Fox, reassured supporters that they anticipate fulfilling all participation criteria by June 20.

Similar qualifying criteria have also been outlined by ABC News, mirroring those set by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). The CPD, known for hosting general election debates, has faced criticism in the past for its criteria that have kept certain candidates off the debate stage.

Interestingly, many state deadlines for independent candidates to gain ballot access fall after CNN's scheduled debate. For instance, Kennedy's campaign has gathered the required number of signatures to be on Ohio's ballot, but they have chosen to wait until closer to the state's August 7 deadline for submission. Similarly, in Texas, Kennedy and his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, have qualified for the ballot, although their petitions are still under review by the Texas Secretary of State.

Kennedy recently expressed in an interview that the campaign plans to delay the submission of signatures in certain states to avoid scrutiny from the Democratic National Committee (DNC). He cited the DNC's significant financial resources and alleged efforts to keep him off the ballot, stating that their strategy is to release signatures at the last minute to minimize potential attacks.

According to the ballot tracker on Kennedy's campaign website, he currently has the potential to qualify for 187 electoral votes based on the states where they have gathered signatures.

As the election season progresses, the dispute surrounding Kennedy's inclusion in debates intensifies, raising questions about the fairness and accessibility of the democratic process. Kennedy and his team remain determined to meet the necessary requirements and offer American voters the three-way debate they believe is essential.