Politico: “Eight candidates participated in the first debate last month. With only a week and a half left to qualify, two are still hunting for an invitation to the second on Sept. 27.”
“And there are signs that the debates after that could see the number of participants contract considerably.”
“The candidates whose participation in future debates is most in doubt are scrambling to influence the qualifications ahead of any announcement.
The campaign manager for Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) sent a letter to the Republican National Committee this week asking for an overhaul of the criteria — without which the South Carolina senator could find himself booted from the stage for the third debate. The same fate could also befall former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.”