Gov. Chris Christie returns to prime-time for Tuesday’s Republican presidential debate

“Our campaign claims that equity in coping with polling variability, which formerly allowed for amended rules for Carly Fiorina for CNN’s August Republican Presidential argument, would suggest Rand Paul should be on the main stage during Tuesday’s discussion”, his campaign said. “Rand Paul in the prime-time debate”, the network said, citing a CNN spokeswoman it didn’t name. Christie had been dropped from the main-stage lineup in the last debate, due to low poll ratings.

Republican Presidential candidate Chris Christie speaks during a town hall at the Louden Fire Department November 30, 2015 in Loudon, New Hampshire. Ted Cruz on his left. Its coverage of the prime-time debate, which includes the top nine candidates in the GOP field, begins at 8:30 p.m.

The five remaining participants on the main stage will be Florida Sen.

CNN reported that Paul was “saved at the 11th hour” with a Fox News poll released Saturday morning showing him with 5 percent of support in Iowa. Lindsey Graham, and ex-New York Gov. George Pataki. Christie still lacks the 3.5 percent national average CNN requires for the main stage but the network is also giving consideration to polling in New Hampshire as well as Iowa, both key early-deciding states.

The moderator will be Wolf Blitzer, with CNN’s Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash joining Salem Radio Network talk show host Hugh Hewitt as questioners.

According to Politico, Tuesday’s debate will stream for free at www.cnn.com, and no cable subscription is necessary to stream. Marco Rubio (10 percent), and Ben Carson (9 percent) are closest to Trump.

Hosted by CNN, the debate is being held in Las Vegas and the odds are good that along with a real focus on national security and global terrorism, the candidates will be asked to address recent reports about a possible “brokered” or “contested” convention.

STAFFORD: Well, we’re just very pleased that Senator Paul is going to be on the main stage where we feel he belongs. It starts at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard Time and will be broadcast by ABC.