Rand Paul Probably Won’t Qualify For Next Republican Debate

Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul is very unlikely to qualify for the December 15 Republican CNN debate, according to an analysis from Bloomberg.

In order to make the main debate, candidates must average 3.5 percent support nationally in primary polls taken after October 29. Paul’s national poll average since then is only 2.8 percent. Paul would have to see a virtuously unheard of boost in the polls before Sunday in order to meet that qualification.

Candidates can also make the main stage if they average 4 points in either Iowa or New Hampshire. Paul’s currently sitting at 3.5 in Iowa. Bloomberg calculates that Paul’s best chance is if he manages to net 6 percent in the last Iowa poll before the deadline… a number he hasn’t reached since June.

Paul will likely end up in the undercard debate, alongside prominent candidates like Jim Gilmore and George Pataki. But there is good news for one Republican candidate; Chris Christie, who didn’t qualify for the primetime Fox Business debate, will end up on the main stage again due to his strong numbers in New Hampshire.

[Image via Shutterstock]
——
>>Follow Alex Griswold (@HashtagGriswold) on Twitter

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!