# RFK Jr Files to Run for President (Dropped Out on August 23, 2024) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 6, 2023, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260 "2023-04-06T16:36:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 26
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2024, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/501 "2024-06-08T00:38:16Z")
Iowa: Bird flu is running rampant in our state, please only drink pasteurized milk The MAGA Jr. campaign: Raw milk for everyone! > ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2024, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/502 "2024-06-08T01:05:27Z")
I think we’ve seen the “let’s kill all of our supporters” strategy before. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2024, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/503 "2024-06-08T01:56:59Z")
Didn’t work. Only killed some of them. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2024, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/504 "2024-06-08T03:18:59Z")
If at first you don’t succeed… ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2024, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/505 "2024-06-08T03:53:01Z")
If we are diligent in our efforts in furtherance of the darwinization of those who cry, “_Don’t listen to the experts!_” the world will probably become a better place. (Not that much effort is needed.) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/506 "2024-06-11T17:45:26Z")
Could make a difference in swing states. > **[RFK Jr.’s coalition spans the political spectrum. That could have...](https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/11/politics/rfk-jr-coalition-challenges/index.html)** > > In Wisconsin, a 62-year-old tree farm owner who voted for Donald Trump in 2020 and a 22-year-old who cast her first presidential vote for Joe Biden that same year share one major thing in common now – they’re both planning to vote for Robert F.... ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/507 "2024-06-11T20:32:45Z")
Nah. Of those who said they support Kennedy more did not vote last time than the total of those who voted for either Trump or Biden. And that is split pretty evenly. The questions that would be telling if accurately answered are correlating confidence of intention to vote with whom, and of those with high intention to vote and planning to vote RFK how or if they’d vote if he was not in the race. No data so just a WAG - low confidence that most of these people were ever going vote in this election and pretty little net impact of those who do. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2024, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/508 "2024-06-19T02:35:24Z")
From [CNN.com](http://CNN.com): [With less than two weeks until the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle, CNN has released additional details on the parameters agreed upon by the Trump and Biden campaigns.](https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/15/politics/trump-biden-cnn-debate-rules/index.html) > [@](#): > > All participating debaters must appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold to win the presidency and receive at least 15% in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters that meet CNN’s standards . . . > > Though not impossible in Kennedy’s case, it is less likely that candidates other than Biden and Trump will meet those requirements. > > Kennedy has received at least 15% in three qualifying polls so far and is currently on the ballot in six states, making him currently eligible for 89 Electoral College votes. I cannot see Kennedy meeting requirements for a first debate invite. The implication of the above is that he unverified claims, of having turned in enough signatures to be on a ballot, will not be accepted. Can he purchase advertising during the debate? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2024, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/509 "2024-06-19T08:19:17Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Electoral College votes. > > I cannot see Kennedy meeting requirements for a first debate invite. The implication of the above is that he unverified claims, of having turned in enough signatures to be on a ballot, will not be accepted. > > Can he purchase advertising during the debate? Wait - since when are debates held before the conventions? Aren’t they usually in the fall? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2024, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/510 "2024-06-19T08:25:33Z")
This’ll be the first time we’ve had a debate this early in the year, yes. The Commission for Presidential Debates usually schedules three in September and October, a few weeks apart, but Biden and Trump agreed to this debate on their own outside the Commission. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2024, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/511 "2024-06-19T13:47:00Z")
Perhaps both are hoping to put a stake through RFK’s campaign’s heart. And their only real opponent’s chances too, but that’s lots less likely to be doable… ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2024, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/512 "2024-06-19T14:54:32Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > Electoral College votes. > > > > I cannot see Kennedy meeting requirements for a first debate invite. The implication of the above is that he unverified claims, of having turned in enough signatures to be on a ballot, will not be accepted. > > > > Can he purchase advertising during the debate? > > Wait - since when are debates held before the conventions? Aren’t they usually in the fall? As I mentioned in the debate thread I don’t understand it myself. With it being this early I don’t see a benefit for either candidate but I see a lot of downsides. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2024, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/513 "2024-06-19T22:43:51Z")
More time for damage control afterwards. But it still seems stoopid to me. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/514 "2024-06-20T00:13:03Z")
Oh, if Donnie goes off the rails and Joe mops the floor with him, I want America to see that as soon as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/515 "2024-06-20T00:30:37Z")
If that happens, the MAGA folks would say that it wasn’t Joe, but a Joe-robot, just like Superman had Superman-robots who could step in when he was suffering from Kryptonite poisoning. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/516 "2024-06-20T00:53:09Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > the MAGA folks would say that it wasn’t Joe, but a Joebot! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/517 "2024-06-20T00:55:21Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > As I mentioned in the debate thread I don’t understand it myself. Short version: Trump actually believes his own lies about Biden being a shambling husk of a man who can’t string two sentences together and talks to people who aren’t there, so he challenged Biden to a debate “anywhere, anytime” expecting that Biden’s handlers would refuse on his behalf and prove how feeble he is. Biden, of course, is no such thing, and called Trump’s bluff by setting a date and time which Trump then had no way to back out of without looking like an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/518 "2024-06-20T07:35:32Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Joebot! Joebot for President! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/519 "2024-06-20T17:54:46Z")
He had failed to qualify for the CNN debate > **[Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed to qualify for the CNN debate, leaving a...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/06/20/rfk-jr-cnn-election-debate/74154330007/)** > > Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed to qualify for the June 27 CNN debate, leaving President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump to face off. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2024, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260/520 "2024-06-20T20:04:32Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > but Biden and Trump agreed to this debate on their own outside the Commission Trump had been blustering about wanting to hurry and debate NOW, being already the known candidates, and one fine day the President said “hey, sure, let’s go”; CNN quickly whipped out a formal proposal and Biden said “I’ll take that — over to you, Donald”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfk-jr-files-to-run-for-president-dropped-out-on-august-23-2024/982260.md?page=27)