With the fifth GOP presidential debate just days away, Rand Paul, who was once considered a main contender for the anti-establishment vote, will likely be booted from the main stage and replaced by
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has been surging in the polls in New Hampshire,
Politico reports.
"It's a daily battle, these polls. And the narrative that comes out of them becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy," said one Paul strategist, according to Politico. He added that the sustainability of the campaign is compromised if the senator gets taken off the main stage.
"We have to remain on the stage in these debates."
Currently, only five candidates — Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush — are at 3 percent or higher in national polls since October and are guaranteed a spot on the main stage.
However, because CNN has decided to include both national polls and surveys in either Iowa or New Hampshire, it is likely that Chris Christie, John Kasich and Carly Fiorina will stand at the top five's side in the main event in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
In order to qualify for the main debate, CNN has stipulated that each candidate must average at least 3.5 percent nationally or 4 percent in either of the first two voting states.
In determining who will join the top five candidates on stage, here is where the remaining candidates stand in the polls:
- Christie: 6.3 percent nationally;
- Kasich: 8.4 percent nationally;
- Fiorina: 4.6 percent nationally;
- Paul: 2.8 percent nationally, 3.5 percent in Iowa, 3.2 percent in New Hampshire
- Mike Huckabee: 2.4 percent national, 2 percent in Iowa, less than 1 percent in New Hampshire;
There will also be an undercard event for those candidates who have achieved at least 1 percent in any four polls conducted nationally or in the two early voting states and according to Politico it is likely that Paul, Huckabee, Rick Santorum, George Pataki and Lindsey Graham will be on that panel.
Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore will most likely be excluded from both events again as he has failed to earn at least 1 percent in any of the 17 qualifying polls.
Politico notes that there's still time for the numbers to change; however, the deadline to qualify for the Dec. 15 debate is Sunday, Dec. 13.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.