Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Secures Maine Ballot Spot

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has cleared a major hurdle to appear on Maine's November ballot as a challenge against his nominating petitions was withdrawn by James Stretch, a supporter of President Biden. Stretch had alleged various irregularities, including invalid signatures and incorrect addresses, but did not provide a reason for dropping the challenge. Meanwhile, challenges against fellow independent candidate Cornel West are still ongoing, with claims of invalid signatures and other statutory violations. Both candidates were initially confirmed to have met the required 4,000 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. The challenges appear to be part of a broader strategy by Clear Choice Action, a group aimed at preventing third-party candidates from acting as spoilers in a tightly contested presidential election. Polls suggest Kennedy and West may attract a small percentage of the vote in Maine, potentially affecting major candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.