Rand Paul may not qualify for CNN debate

“We will make an announcement, on that, on Tuesday”, Paul is quoted as saying by the Globe’s Angelina Salcedo and Robert Way, in what they wrote was a response when “asked Saturday by the Globe specifically if he would drop out of the race for president if he didn’t qualify for the main-stage GOP debate”.

But Matt Chisholm, the New Hampshire communications director for the Paul campaign, told the Globe later Saturday that the senator was in the race to win.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is perilously close to missing the cut for next week’s Republican Presidential debate on CNN, which would relegate him to a non-prime time forum with second-tier candidates. Those with weaker polling will be invited to participate in a separate debate earlier in the evening.

In the press release, Paul’s campaign argues that the precedent set when CNN changed its criteria to allow Fiorina to participate in the debates should be adhered to in this case.

Paul last visited Reno in September when he spoke at the University of Nevada, Reno.

To qualify for the CNN-sponsored primetime debate, candidates must average at least 3.5 percent support nationally or 4 percent in either Iowa or New Hampshire, based on major polls conducted between October 29 and December 13.

“I have every expectation that I will be treated fairly”.

“The campaign is not asking for special treatment, but simply fairness in criteria, whether it be time frames, allowances for poll variances, or rounding, all of which have been applied to other debates”, the campaign said.

CNN is expected to announce its debate stage participants for both the main stage and undercard debates on Sunday.

Candidates can also make the main stage if they average 4 points in either Iowa or New Hampshire.

Christie, who spent last round in the undercard debate after holding strong for the first few, is poised to take Paul’s spot.