Gary Johnson And Jill Stein Not Invited To First Presidential Debate

But the Commission on Presidential Debates set a threshold of 15 percent support in an average of polls before a candidate can make the rostrum. Johnson's campaign, which had previously pointed out that Ross Perot did not poll as high as 15 percent right before the 1992 debates, accused the CPD of rigging the game.

The first of three presidential debates is September 26 at Hofstra University in NY.

Gary Johnson, of the Libertarian Party, and Jill Stein, of the Green Party, are receiving some time during the daily news shows.

If Johnson is excluded from next week's debate, it would perpetuate the myth that voters have to choose between the two unpopular candidates nominated by the major political parties. Clinton averaged 43 percent, and Donald Trump 40.4 percent.

According to the CBS News/New York Times poll, on Thursday Johnson was polling about 8 percent and Stein about 4 percent. Accordingly, Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Tim Kaine, and Donald Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence, qualify to participate ...

Though Johnson and Stein will likely mourn the opportunity to be in the first debate, it's not too late to earn debate participation down the line.

Both Stein and Johnson have been outspoken about wanting to be included in the presidential debates.

The five journalists moderating the debates are Lester Holt, Elaine Quijano, Martha Raddatz, Anderson Cooper, and Chris Wallace.

The commission also said that the October 4 vice presidential debate at Longwood University in Farmville will only include Sen. Let him on stage for the Hofstra debate and let voters compare his style and message to that of Clinton and Trump.

"I would say I am surprised that the CPD has chosen to exclude me from the first debate, but I'm not", he said in the statement.

Johnson has been critical of the debate selection process, arguing that the criteria for candidates to make the stage is skewed in favor of Republicans and Democrats.

Stein made a campaign stop in Colorado Springs at the end of August.

The announcement also means that William Weld, the Libertarian vice presidential nominee, will not participate in an October 4 debate involving Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence.