Republican presidential candidates can qualify for the main stage at the next GOP debate on Dec. 15 by achieving a certain polling threshold in national polls — or in polls on the early states of Iowa and New Hampshire.
Candidates must average — without rounding — at least 3.5 percent nationally, at least 4 percent in Iowa, or at least 4 percent in New Hampshire to make the main, 9 p.m. (EST) debate stage, according to criteria outlined this week by debate host CNN.
Right now, that would put nine candidates on the main stage in Las Vegas: the eight who were on the main stage in the last debate, plus New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who participated in the undercard debate earlier this month in Wisconsin.
Until now, only national polls had been used by CNN and other networks to determine which candidates would participate in the debates. Some have argued that polling numbers in early states like Iowa and New Hampshire are better indicators of how candidates are doing than national polls, since the party’s presidential nominee is chosen through a series of state-by-state primaries and caucuses.
A second debate for candidates who don’t make the cut for the main stage will also be held again. To participate in that debate, candidates have to reach at least 1 percent in four separate national, Iowa, or New Hampshire polls.
The network said it would recognize data collected from surveys conducted between Oct. 29 and Dec. 13. The debate is on Dec. 15.
The network said only polling from the following sources would be considered: ABC News, Bloomberg News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, Gallup, Marist University, McClatchy News Service, Monmouth News Service, NBC News, The New York Times, Pew Research Center, Quinnipiac University, Time, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Des Moines Register, the University of New Hampshire, WBUR and WMUR.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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