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How a Fox News Poll Makes the Difference in CNN Debate

He’ll be flanked by retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. Marco Rubio (Fla.), New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Ohio Gov. John Kasich (Ohio), and Carly Fiorina were also invited appear on the main debate stage. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul did not meet any of the criteria, but was included by showing viability in Iowa in a Fox News poll released Sunday morning.

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Four less-popular GOP contenders will take part in an earlier, under-card debate: former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; former Sen. Rand Paul was in danger of being demoted in CNN’s upcoming GOP debate, but he secured his spot Sunday. Rick Santorum, and former New York Gov. George Pataki.

Among the topics up for debate, candidates will chat national security and global terrorismaccording to CNN. The top five candidates qualified as a result of their standing in national polls, according to Politico. Missing from the stage will be Bobby Jindal, who dropped out soon after the last debate.

Christie, who was recently endorsed by the New Hampshire Union Ledger, will stand at the podium for the seventh place candidate, with Paul to his left at the podium reserved for the candidate in ninth place.

There will be two different debates, with the first starting at 3 p.m. PT, 6 p.m. ET and the second beginning 5:30 p.m. PT, 8:30 p.m. ET.

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On September 16th of this year, CNN hosted a Republican presidential debate in which the network pitted candidates against each other in a sensationalistic manner with limited emphasis on the substantive policy issues facing America.

NPR is keeping track of how long each candidate speaks during Tuesday's debate.    Ulrich Baumgarten    
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