Christie was relegated to the undercard for the last debate, which was hosted by Fox Business Network earlier this month.
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Republican presidential candidates can qualify for the main stage at the next GOP debate on December 15 by achieving a certain polling threshold in national polls – or in polls on the early states of Iowa and New Hampshire. And Kasich’s emphasis on New Hampshire, where he is now averaging around 8 percent, will punch his ticket unless his numbers plummet.
The new criteria would now leave nine candidates on the main stage, with any candidate who polls either at 3.5% nationally, 4% in Iowa or 4% in New Hampshire on average between October 29 and December 13 eligible to participate.
He would be much closer to the bubble if only national polls were considered, which has been the case in three of the first four GOP confabs.
Currently, per CNN, eight other candidates would make the coveted prime-time spotlight: Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Florida Sen.
According to criteria for the debate released by CNN on Friday, there are three ways for a candidate to make it on stage for the main debate at 9 p.m. Candidates must have a national poll average of at least 3.5 percent, average at least 4 percent support in Iow, or average at least 4 percent support in New Hampshire. Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen.
Networks have used national polls to cast previous debates, drawing protests from Republicans who said surveys in the opening states of Iowa and New Hampshire are a better gauge of how candidates are doing.
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CNN’s Dana Bash and conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt are scheduled to host the event, with Wolf Blitzer moderating.
