Trump states Christie, Huckabee must be on main debate stage

The prime-time lineup: Donald Trump, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Sen.

Both Christie and Huckabee failed to meet the criteria set by the debate moderators, which stated that they needed to average 2.5 percent of voter support in the four most recent national polls.

Likewise, Huckabee took the discouraging news with grace, tweeting, “I’m happy to debate anyone, anywhere, anytime”.

The next prime-time Republican debate in Milwaukee on Tuesday will be much like the previous three, with two distinct exceptions – contenders Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee will be on the undercard instead of the main event.

Fox Business Network is the co-host of the debate with The Wall Street Journal. Rick Santorum in the undercard debate late that afternoon.

The main Fox Business/WSJ debate will be held on November 10 at 9 p.m. EST, while the undercard is scheduled at 7 p.m. EST.

The Fox Business Network has announced Thursday that low-polling for Christie, despite a few recent gains after his performance in the most recent GOP debate, has moved the governor to the second-tier of candidates of the next debate.

Huckabee’s odds to suspend his campaign were at 61% and then rose to 76% after Fox Business made the announcement.

But change the polls that were used, and you get a different debate setup. Marco Rubio of Florida, Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky; former technology executive Carly Fiorina; and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Former NY Gov. George Pataki and SC Sen.

Republican presidential candidate and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, speaks at the Growth and Opportunity Party, at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday October 31, 2015.

In the same report, Brigid Harrison, a political science and law professor at Montclair State University, added: “This is enormously damaging to Christie ‘s campaign and his prospects”.

Immediately before the news broke, Christie adjourned a round-table meeting in Somersworth, N.H., where he discussed drug addiction and treatment with local law enforcement and advocates.

“The voters – not networks driven by ratings or national polls that are statistically irrelevant – should decide our next president”, said Pataki, who has been polling at around 1 percent support. “Regardless of this decision tonight, Senator Graham continues to be the foremost expert on foreign policy and national security in this field of candidates, on either stage”, Christian Ferry, his campaign manager, said in a statement.