Both campaigns, which had been ready for the snub and had unsuccessfully sued for debate access, reacted with outrage. 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 CPD may scoff at a ticket that enjoys ‘only’ 9 or 10% in their hand-selected polls, but even 9% represents 13 million voters, more than the total population of Ohio and most other states," Johnson said in a statement. "Yet, the Republicans and Democrats are choosing to silence the candidate preferred by those millions of Americans. Americans are tired of rigged systems, and the monopoly on debates created by the CPD is a prime and skillfully executed example."

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Stein lambasted the commission in a series of tweets.

Stein has repeatedly promised to show up at the first presidential debate, scheduled for Sept. 26 at New York's Hofstra University, and to get arrested in an act of civil disobedience. Johnson has no such plans, but he and running mate Bill Weld have previously said that an exclusion from the debate stage would close off their chances at an upset win.

Shortly after the CPD announced its decision, independent candidate Evan McMullin issued Stein and Johnson an invitation to a take part in their own debate.

Johnson's campaign had no comment, but in an interview during his August campaign swing through New England, Johnson dismissed McMullin as a fringe candidate who would not be in serious contention for the presidency.

"He's going to be on the ballot in, what, nine states?" Johnson said.