Here’s What CNN Is Requiring for the Next GOP Debate

CNN, which is sponsoring the December 15 debate with Facebook and Salem Media, announced Friday that there are three ways candidates can qualify for main debate. He falls short in the national-poll threshold, averaging 2.8 percent, and in Iowa, where he’s averaging around 2.5 percent. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R), Sen.

If polling cut off today, Christie would join Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Florida Sen.

A second debate for candidates who don’t make the cut for the main stage will also be held again.

Any candidate polling at 3.5 percent nationally, 4 percent in Iowa, or 4 percent New Hampshire between October 29 and December 15 will be able invited to the primetime event, while anyone polling above 1 percent in Iowa, New Hampshire, or nationally will be relegated to the undercard “happy hour” debate. He clears the national hurdle of 3.5%, but doesn’t average 4% in either of the first two states to vote in the 2016 nominating process. Rand Paul and Carly Fiorina on the main stage.

The other candidate who had been moved from the main debate to the secondary one, former Gov. Mike Huckabee, would remain in the so-called undercard unless poll numbers change. CNN will average polling results from a variety of sources to determine each candidate’s popularity.

There was controversy about qualifiers for the November debate.

Christie would make the main debate stage as of Friday – but he did not qualify in the last GOP debate, hosted by Fox Business Network. Had it used a McClatchy-Marist poll released after the lineup was announced, it was likely Christie and Huckabee would have made the big debate.