After five Republican presidential debates, the question has become more of a wail: Why are candidates polling in the toilet still getting a kiddie table debate before the main event? Why are candidates whose eventual departure from the race will lead mostly to “he was running?” jokes still getting this much airtime? Well, don’t look to Fox Business to put those questions to rest with the next debate to be held January 14. While the qualification rules released Tuesday mean there will be a significant shakeup in how the debate is cast, it won’t involve eliminating those extra hours of airtime for windbags.
There's no limit on the number of candidates on the main stage. But according to POLITICO calculations based on only the national polling available as of Tuesday, the prime-time debate stage would include Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Marco Rubio, retired neurologist Ben Carson, former Gov. Jeb Bush and Gov. Chris Christie. The early state polling wouldn't change the lineup as of Tuesday, according to POLITICO calculations of Iowa and New Hampshire polls.
To qualify for the earlier undercard debate, candidates must register at least 1 percent in one of the five most recent national polls, as recognized by Fox News.
According to polling released as of Tuesday, the undercard debate stage would include Sen. Paul, Gov. Kasich, Fiorina, former Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Sen. Rick Santorum and former Gov. George Pataki.
It’s been said before, but I’m not sure it can be said enough times: Can you imagine the networks making this much time for Democrats polling that badly?